ATD Blog
Let’s explore the ways coaching can help TD leaders address key trends in 2025 and beyond.
Tue Jan 14 2025
It’s that time of year again. As we begin another year, professionals are gearing up for shifts that will influence the way they work. Simultaneously, talent development (TD) leaders are seeking ways to prepare their teams to navigate these rising trends. In my role as a leader in the coaching industry sitting at the crux of these trends, I have developed a unique view and an understanding of how professional development methodologies like coaching can enable teams to prepare.
Coaching is a rapidly growing field, with the number of coach practitioners increasing by 54 percent between 2019 and 2022, according to a 2023 International Coaching Federation (ICF) Global Coaching Study. As it grows, coaching is expanding into new applications. It is now used to deliver a range of benefits including improved communication skills, increased self-confidence, optimized teamwork performance, and expanded career opportunities, according to the ICF Global Consumer Awareness Study.
Let’s explore the ways coaching can help TD leaders address key trends in 2025 and beyond.
The mental well-being of employees will likely grow as a focus in 2025. The World Health Organization estimates that as of 2024, 12 billion working days are lost annually to depression and anxiety, at a cost of USD $1 trillion per year in lost productivity. This underscores that mental health concerns were not just temporary during the pandemic. With 84 percent of survey respondents saying workplace conditions contributed to at least one mental health challenge, the time for TD leaders to effectively address mental wellbeing continues as much now as it did in 2020. If this is pushed down the line, burnout will be inevitable.
Coaching is rising in its demand to support mental well-being, guiding clients to find practical solutions to alleviate related pressures. A new ICF Snapshot Survey on Coaching and Mental Well-Being shows that 85 percent of professional coaches working with clients are receiving requests for mental well-being support, and having a great impact addressing those needs. These results stem from coaching techniques such as visualization, self-reflection, and other personalized approaches.
As TD leaders seek programs that eliminate the toll work can take on mental health before causing a dip in productivity, engagement, or attendance, coaching can make a significant difference. More than half of coaches report that the companies that employ them are seeing measurable return on investment from their mental well-being initiatives.
For perhaps the first time ever, many leaders worldwide in 2025 will navigate the varying needs of a five-generation workforce, according to Purdue Global. In some cases, an organization’s workforce might encompass up to seven generations, with employees born anywhere from 1940 to 2006. Meeting the needs of Traditionalists, Gen Z and everyone in between within the confines of one company structure is no small feat—but not impossible. With retirement ages continuing to rise and Gen-Z quickly moving from college to their entry-level roles and advancing beyond, this challenge will only continue to escalate.
To address this fantastic opportunity and the challenge, TD leaders can encourage business leaders to develop coaching skills. When incorporated effectively, coaching skills such as leading with understanding, active listening, encouraging two-way mentorship, and creating space for open communication and soliciting input can create a team that works together despite their differences, to achieve a shared goal and appreciate the diversity of their thinking.
Perhaps the least surprising 2025 trend is the rise in AI tools within the workplace. The World Economic Forum found that 85 percent of organizations identify increased adoption of new technologies as the trend driving transformation in their organization, and it’s shaping the future of coaching and professional development as much as any other industry. As AI tools become more common, coaches are enabled to provide greater access to their services to their clients through AI coaching platforms, which give clients 24/7 access to coaching support. When implementing AI tools for coaching with your team, be sure to align to these best practices.
The way we work continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace. With a rise in burnout, a five-generation workforce, and transformative technologies on track to redefine the workplace, TD leaders must find strategies like coaching that will help their teams take advantage of and benefit from these trends. By incorporating professional coaching to foster flexibility in workplace culture, to acknowledge each generation and their unique contributions and needs, TD teams can take on all that 2025 has in store and reach new heights of success.
You've Reached ATD Member-only Content
Become an ATD member to continue
Already a member?Sign In
More from ATD