What To Look Out For In 2025

Dr. April Willis, Principal Business Consultant & Coach at April Willis Consulting, LLC.

As we bid 2024 adieu, it’s time to celebrate the magnificence that 2025 will bring. As business coaches, this year is about wrapping up a quarter of a century in the tech era that has rapidly shaped the direction of our world.

From worrying about the impact of Y2K 25 years ago, to skeptically exploring the depth of AI, we’ve come a long way—but what does it mean for coaching? Here are a few predictions regarding the coaching industry.

1. Costs

This is a saturated market because it’s not uncommon for a person who has accomplished a milestone to deem themselves fit to coach others in achieving comparable outcomes. We’re going to see people who are trying to break into the coaching industry do so by applying effective costing strategies. For example, they’re going to come in significantly less expensive than the coaching average for their location.

You might wonder how this is any different than any other year—well, with more corporations implementing return-to-office mandates, more people are looking for flexible ways to make money while staying at home. We’re also seeing people who are more comfortable now than ever before using virtual platforms and who have had time to recover from Zoom fatigue, so the idea is more palatable now than it was two years ago.

We’re also going to see more seasoned coaches realize that with the cost of inflation this past year, they have the right to raise their prices. They may have held off due to client loyalty or even hope that things might return to normal, but at this point, they are ready to take their practices to new heights. They are going to become more exclusive by increasing rates by as much as 15%.

2. Group Coaching

Workplaces are increasingly collaborative team environments, and as a result, we’re going to see more requests for group coaching sessions—it’s what people are used to. Co-workers and even classmates are going to want to attend sessions together. Coaches are also more likely to offer more affordable rates for group coaching options, not to mention the time efficiency, allowing coaches to help more people per day.

3. Employer-Paid Sessions

Speaking of work, employers continue to seek creative benefits, and coaching sessions are going to increase in popularity. While it’s common to hear about companies paying for professional development opportunities, that usually means conference attendance or course registration. We haven’t traditionally seen a lot of companies subscribe to coaching for their staff.

That’s about to change. Not only will it show an investment in their employees, but what a great way to increase performance for team members, especially those who wouldn’t traditionally be on a leadership track.

4. Accountability Partners

We’re going to see a shift in what coaching encompasses. Remember when coaching used to rely on proprietary curricula and an expert coach who could draw from a wealth of strategies to bring the best out of people? Well, those days are fading.

Now, coaching clients are going to want accountability partners more than anything. They want a person who isn’t in their inner circle and can provide check-ins toward goals, offer suggestions for next steps and give them affirmations when they are on the right track. Clients are looking for clarity, but they want to find it on their own through structured check-ins and an opportunity to talk through their experiences.

We’re moving toward a culture of coaching more aligned with mental health practices with regular check-ins, allowing people to verbalize when things aren’t okay and empowering them to pursue their goals, not the goals others have set for them. While many coaches may have been doing versions of this, this shift will be more apparent in 2025 and clients will be seeking this model.

Pro Tip: Draw clear and distinct lines between being a coach (paid) and a mentor or accountability buddy (free) early and often to avoid any confusion or feelings of being taken advantage of.

5. Tech-Heavy

What kind of 2025 predictions article would this be if it didn’t include AI? That’s right, even coaches are becoming more efficient with artificial intelligence. Specifically, coaches will be using AI for content creation on their blogs, social media and newsletters. They may even begin prepping for sessions by prompting AI to provide possible solutions to anticipated issues on upcoming calls. While a coach can’t be replaced, they can enhance their efficiency with the help of technology.

If they haven’t already utilized technology for streamlined operations, then this is the year. From scheduling to payments to note-taking, anything that can be enhanced with technology will be used to maximize outputs for coaching practices. This is the year tech-savvy coaches will thrive while those who are apprehensive to adopt new technology might find themselves being left behind. “Digital literacy” is now just “literacy,” and we are quickly losing the option to not embrace all things tech.

Final Thoughts

While we can’t guarantee any of these trends will manifest, it’s interesting to speculate on future trends based on previous experiences and societal norms. Regardless of what comes in 2025, what a wonderful time to be a coach! Coaching can bring out the best in others and create powerful outcomes. Whatever trends do or don’t pan out, here’s to your best coaching year yet!

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