How to Make the Case for Internal Communication Coaching in Your Professional Development Budget

As budget season for the new year begins (or will begin soon), now’s the time to consider advancing your professional development. Being part of a small or one-person internal communication (IC) team means limited opportunities to connect with thought partners who can help you hone your skills in this dynamic environment. That’s where IC coaching comes in. Conducted individually or as a team, IC coaching provides tailored solutions and fresh ideas. Here’s how you can make a compelling case for it in your professional development budget.

• Demonstrate Return on Investment
  Begin by highlighting the tangible benefits of IC coaching. Effective communication helps drive employee engagement, fosters a positive corporate culture, and enhances productivity. According to a Gallup study, companies with highly engaged employees outperform their peers by 147% in earnings per share. Coaching helps refine your skills, directly impacting these critical areas and providing a measurable return on investment.

• Emphasize Skill Enhancement
  As a small team or solo professional, you’re both the strategist and tactician. Coaching offers tailored strategies to enhance your skills in various domains, such as strategic planning, storytelling, and elevating your function’s narrative. This specialized training equips you to handle diverse challenges more effectively, ultimately benefiting the organization as a whole.

• Advocate for Personalized Support
  Unlike generic training programs, coaching provides personalized support. It addresses your specific needs and gaps, ensuring you gain the most relevant skills. This approach means faster, more effective learning and immediate application of new strategies in your role.

• Stress the Competitive Advantage
  Investing in coaching signals to your leadership that you’re committed to staying at the forefront of industry best practices. It positions you—and by extension, your organization—as leaders in effective communication. This competitive edge is invaluable in today’s market, where IC can significantly influence business success.

• Highlight Success Stories
  Share examples of other organizations or individuals who have benefited from internal communication coaching. For instance, Delal S., one of my coaching clients, said, “Emily's coaching sessions were incredibly beneficial due to her insight and guidance. She asked thought-provoking questions that challenged my thinking and helped me delve deeper into understanding internal communication strategies. Her guidance provided practical and effective solutions that I could immediately apply. Emily’s ability to tailor her advice to our specific needs made the sessions exceptionally valuable. Overall, her coaching significantly enhanced my understanding and application of internal communication strategies.”

By framing internal communication coaching as a strategic investment, you can effectively advocate for its inclusion in your professional development budget. Empower yourself with the skills and knowledge to elevate your role and drive your organization’s success.

Curious about how you could benefit from coaching?