The Future of Coaching in Organizations

Reflecting on my recent participation in the ICN Big Ideas Meet Up panel discussion on the future of coaching in organizations, I feel even more inspired and committed to exploring how we can drive meaningful change through coaching. The event, organized by the Internal Coach Network & Catherine Boddington PCC , highlighted the immense potential of coaching to transform organizations, and I am excited to be part of this journey towards impactful change.

Why It Matters Now

Coaching has shifted from a once-niche service to a mainstream development tool, widely recognized for its impact on leadership development, employee well-being, and organizational culture. According to a study by PwC, 87% of coaches and HR leaders believe that coaching data and analytics will be key in demonstrating the impact of coaching on business outcomes in the next 3–5 years.

A study by Metrix Global found that executive coaching can yield a 788% ROI, factoring in productivity increases and employee retention. However, it's important to note that such high ROI figures can vary significantly depending on the specific context and implementation of the intervention.

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this shift, with remote work, hybrid teams, and evolving organizational structures demanding new ways to manage performance, foster connection, and enhance productivity. Coaching plays a pivotal role in:

• Building resilience in leaders and teams to navigate uncertainty and change.
• Developing emotional intelligence, a crucial skill as empathy becomes a leadership necessity in a fragmented work environment.
• Enhancing employee engagement, which Gallup research shows to be critical for reducing turnover and driving business success.

I found the insights shared by Andrew Drake in this area, with his expertise and research work, to be pretty special during the event.

Where Is Coaching Headed? What to Expect More of (and Less of)

As organizations become more complex and globalized, the coaching profession is evolving to meet the changing needs of both individuals and businesses.

More of:

• Technology-Enabled Coaching: Digital platforms are changing the game by making coaching accessible at scale. AI-driven tools are supporting personalized coaching journeys, providing data-driven insights into employee performance and well-being. Platforms like Delenta are at the forefront of this revolution, offering end-to-end solutions that streamline the coaching process and provide real-time feedback.
• Integrated Coaching Solutions: Companies are no longer treating coaching as an isolated intervention. Instead, it’s being woven into HR and Learning & Development (L&D) strategies to create continuous learning ecosystems. Expect to see coaching used more strategically to align individual growth with broader organizational goals.
• Group Coaching: As we see a rise in collaborative work environments, group coaching is gaining momentum. It’s being used to address shared challenges, build team dynamics, and foster peer learning. The power of collective intelligence in group coaching is undeniable, helping participants leverage diverse perspectives to solve complex problems together.

Less of:

• Traditional One-on-One Models: While individual coaching will always have value, we’re seeing a shift toward more scalable models, including hybrid and group coaching.
• Transactional Coaching: Gone are the days when coaching was used as a short-term solution for underperformance.

The Role of AI and Digital Platforms in Coaching

AI is reshaping how coaching is delivered, but rather than replacing human coaches, it’s augmenting their abilities. AI can provide data-driven insights, automated scheduling, and performance tracking, allowing coaches to focus on the deeper, human aspects of coaching, such as emotional intelligence, empathy, and personal development.

This is the reason why Delenta are pioneering the integration of AI into coaching and looking to offer:

• Personalized coaching pathways, based on AI-driven assessments of individual strengths, weaknesses, and goals.
• Analytics and performance dashboards to track progress, ensuring measurable outcomes from coaching programs.
• Scalable solutions that allow internal coaches to reach more employees, delivering tailored coaching at a fraction of the traditional cost.

A recent McKinsey report on the future of work highlights that AI is expected to impact up to 30% of tasks in most roles by 2030, further emphasizing the need for coaching to help employees develop new skills and adaptability. Coaching, powered by digital tools, will be instrumental in helping employees stay agile in this new landscape.

The Power of Group Coaching

In addition to individual coaching, group coaching is emerging as a powerful tool for organizations looking to develop collective intelligence, foster peer support, and drive team performance. Group coaching involves a coach facilitating sessions for a group of individuals with shared goals or challenges, such as leadership development, team building, or diversity and inclusion initiatives.

The impact of group coaching is profound:

• It fosters shared accountability and encourages cross-learning, allowing participants to benefit from the diverse experiences and insights of their peers.
• It creates a sense of community and belonging, which is especially important in today’s dispersed and often disconnected work environments.
• Group coaching can address sensitive topics like mental health, inclusion, or well-being, creating safe spaces for employees to support one another.

When to Use Group Coaching: Group coaching is particularly effective for topics like leadership development, team dynamics, and well-being. It’s also being used in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, such as men’s circles or peer groups aimed at fostering inclusive leadership. Research from the Center for Creative Leadership shows that teams with high psychological safety—a key outcome of effective group coaching—are more innovative and agile in response to change.

Jindy Mann and Mark McCartney shared some of their key insights around the above areaa during their session at ICN.

How Delenta Puts Your Organization in Control of Talent and Data

It’s clear that organizations need solutions that don’t just meet short-term needs but also foster long-term growth and sustainability. While platforms like BetterUp and CoachHub provide valuable external coaching networks, they often do so at the expense of internal coaching talent and data ownership.

Also, one of the key advantages of internal coaching is its alignment with organizational goals. Coaches who understand the company’s culture and strategy can provide more relevant guidance, drive higher engagement, and contribute to talent retention. Delenta strengthens these feedback loops by enabling coaches to track progress and provide real-time feedback, aligning coaching outcomes with both individual development and organizational strategy.

I genuinely believe that empowering internal coaches is the key to building a truly sustainable coaching culture. Our platform, Delenta allows organizations to scale their internal coaching capabilities, while providing the tools to collect, analyze, and own valuable coaching data. This not only helps organizations tailor coaching to their unique goals, but also fosters long-term development by aligning coaching initiatives with broader learning and development strategies.

In a world where coaching is becoming a critical driver of engagement, leadership development, and performance, Delenta offers a way to harness the power of internal expertise while maintaining complete control over the coaching process.

Final Thoughts

The future of coaching lies at the intersection of human connection and technological advancement. As AI and digital coaching continue to evolve, they will enable coaches to scale their efforts, deliver more personalized experiences, and generate measurable impact across organizations. But at the heart of it, coaching remains a deeply human endeavor, focused on unlocking potential, fostering growth, and driving meaningful change.

Organizations that invest in coaching especially with the support of cutting-edge technology will not only future-proof their workforce but also create resilient, adaptive teams that can thrive in an unpredictable world.

Key considerations:

• Empowering internal coaches and ensuring they stay integral to the organization’s development strategies.
• Providing organizations with full control and ownership over valuable coaching data and insights.
• Helping organizations customize their coaching programs to align with strategic goals and company culture.
• Offering a cost-effective, scalable solution that supports long-term growth and learning.