Internal versus external executive coaching

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this paper is to show the advantages and disadvantages of internal and external executive coaching. To this end, it offers a thorough review of the literature and an exploratory study based on the Delphi method with 40 selected experts, who gave answers based on their own experience. The results indicate that the decision on whether to opt for internal coaching (IC), external coaching (EC) or both depends on the objectives to be achieved, the capacity of the organisation and an awareness of the characteristics of the two types. IC is viable when there is a high level of trust in the confidentiality of the process; there are a large number of processes to be carried out; the hierarchical status of the executives is not greater than that of the coaches and the culture of the organisation views coaching as an executive responsibility. EC is the best option for small organisations, for one-off interventions, for top executives and for organisations whose culture does not promote this practice among its own executives. The findings could assist companies in deciding which type of coaching is best suited to their needs, coaches and coachees in achieving greater improvement and better outcomes and offer a clearer view of this segment. The study also sets out the reasoning offered by the experts and provides recommendations for future research.

KEYWORDS:

• Internal executive coaching
• external executive coaching
• coaching effectiveness
• organisational management and leadership

Acknowledgments

We wish to express our thanks to the professionals who collaborated in the development of this research, for their dedication, enthusiasm and knowledge about executive coaching.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Milena Schalk is graduated in Business Administration from the University of Kempten, Germany, and has a MBA in Business Management from an Innovation and Internationalization Perspective of the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU). After an international career, she practices currently in the sales department of a multinational company and researches on Coaching.

Jon Landeta is Professor of Management at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), in Spain, where he is an elected member of the university’s research committee and director of its Executive MBA. His research work, comprising projects, contracts and publications, focuses on executive training (coaching and mentoring), strategic HR management and qualitative research techniques. His has been published in Technological Forecasting and Social Change, International Journal of Forecasting, International Journal of Human Resource Management, Management Decision, Human Factors and Ergonomics. He has also authored several books – Claves del Comportamiento de la Empresa respecto a la Formación Continua de sus Directivos (Keys to Company Performance regarding Continuous Executive Training), Dirección Estratégica de los Recursos Humanos (Strategic Human Resource Management) and El Método Delphi (The Delphi Method).