ABSTRACT
An internal coaching resource can bring a huge number of benefits to an organisation. This chapter discusses the advantages and highlights some of the drawbacks, with the aim of improving internal coaches' awareness of the issues and enabling them to decide whether internal coaching would be a good fit for their organisation. It explores the potential challenges of using internal coaches: status/credibility issues for internal coaches; the increased scope for ethical dilemmas; issues associated with being part of the same culture; how reciprocal arrangements with other organisations can work. There are many good reasons for training internal coaches that are not about cost savings. However, most commentators would say that cost is an important factor in the increasing popularity of internal coaching. Internal coaching provides the opportunity for the coach to deepen connections across the organisation and strengthen internal networks.
