Staying in or going out?

The economic downturn has blurred the distinction between internal and external coaches. So much so, that many organisations are beginning to question why they should pay for an external coach if an internal coach is available. There are definite advantages to using internal coaches. They are closer to the business, so they should know the industry, the corporate culture and the issues that people are dealing with in the organisation. Plus, they are on the payroll, so there’s less of a need to justify the expense. However, there are also some disadvantages to using internal coaches. A coachee is unlikely to tell an internal coach about a problem with his/her boss if that boss is a drinking buddy of the coach. They’re also unlikely to openly admit their weaknesses, if they know the coach is coaching others in the organisation.