Driving Collaboration: should Local Government blend internal coaching and business partnerships?

Finances are more challenging than ever.

There ain’t much (anything?) in the external training budget.

The workforce is shrinking, capacity is stretched.

We need to rely more on our internal capabilities to resolve issues.

We need to continue to encourage development in the toughest of times.

It’s also essential that frontline services receive effective internal business partnerships - where colleagues understand each other’s challenges.

I’m curious, if (in a coaching context) we pair senior officers delivering frontline services with senior officers responsible for delivering business partnerships functions, could we multiple the benefits?

Could we gain the developmental benefits that internal coaching can bring for the coachee. Whilst also gaining the benefits of expanding the situational awareness of the coach, who in turn builds greater understanding of the challenges faced with delivery?