Challenges of Internal Coaching and Ways Organizations Can Provide Support to Build a Robust Practice—A Qualitative Study

Internal Coaching provides organizations with an effective and scalable approach to developing talent, yet its insider dynamics create distinctive challenges. This qualitative study examines these challenges and identifies the organizational support required to sustain a robust internal coaching practice. Semistructured interviews with 11 internal coaches across multiple industries and countries were analyzed thematically. Findings reveal tensions related to role conflict, objectivity, and organizational alignment. The study contributes to theory by extending understanding of internal coaching within organizational systems and offers practical insights for designing strategic and developmental support structures that strengthen coaching cultures and practitioner effectiveness.