How Professional Coaching Can Support Career Mobility
and managers. Many high-potential employees leave organizations due to lack of autonomy, limited responsibilities, and few development opportunities. As a result, skilled young professionals often resign in search of more fulfilling roles.
But have you ever considered that internal career mobility could be the key to reducing external turnover?
Career mobility comes in three main forms: internal, external, and geographic mobility. Instead of resisting professional movement, organizations can benefit from supporting it—especially through professional coaching.
What Is Professional Mobility?
Professional mobility refers to an employee's ability to advance or change roles—either within the same organization or by moving to another.
Upward professional mobility is becoming more common due to rapid digital transformation and a new generation entering the workforce.
According to Studyrama, nearly 1 in 2 French workers are affected by professional retraining. A separate 2016 study by the Observatory of Professional Trajectories found that 26% of employees had undergone a professional transition. These numbers highlight how critical career mobility is in both individual development and HR management.
Types of Professional Mobility
There are three main types of professional mobility:
1. External Mobility
Also known as external career mobility, this refers to employees moving in and out of an organization. It reflects workforce changes and includes two components: accessions (new hires) and separations (departures).
2. Internal Mobility
Internal mobility involves shifting employees between roles within the same company. Both Forbes and Harvard Business Review recognize it as essential to business success.
However, companies often overlook their internal talent pool. Without opportunities for growth, employees may feel undervalued and seek employment elsewhere.
3. Geographic Mobility
This type measures an employee’s willingness and ability to relocate for better job opportunities. Factors like transportation access, public policy, and living standards play a role.
A 2019 study revealed that 79% of workers planned to change jobs. Of those:
- 41% preferred external mobility (changing companies)
- 40% had no preference
- 19% preferred internal mobility
Clearly, supporting internal mobility has its advantages.
How Internal Mobility Benefits a Company
France is currently one of the countries most affected by brain drain, with a negative balance of 130,000 professionals—including both less-educated individuals and highly skilled talent (Bac+3 to Bac+8), particularly women.
To combat turnover, five factors are essential:
- Talent development
- Career development opportunities
- A solid talent management strategy
- Competitive compensation
- High quality of work life
Successful career mobility programs depend on ongoing innovative training, often delivered through corporate universities. This helps retain talent through effective internal skill development.
In-house blended learning enhances performance and plays a key role in employer branding. Employees become more engaged and loyal, and onboarding costs are reduced.
Providing mobile learning opportunities sends a strong signal that managers believe in their people. These initiatives foster loyalty, promote a growth mindset, and strengthen leadership development.
In short, internal mobility is a strategic asset that can attract and retain top talent.
Benefits of Internal Mobility for Employees
Employees benefit significantly from internal career development:
- They’re already familiar with the company’s structure, culture, and environment, reducing stress and adaptation time.
- They maintain existing social bonds, which supports workplace happiness and team cohesion.
- Seniority-related perks (bonuses, leave, etc.) are preserved.
- There’s no trial period for internal transfers—offering greater job security.
Unlike external moves, internal mobility allows employees to evolve without starting from scratch.
Coaching to Support Mobility
When it comes to career transitions, coaching plays a vital role. Internal mobility coaching helps employees transition into new roles with clarity and confidence.
Coaches use methods like DISC to strengthen interpersonal skills, and tailor support based on the employee’s background—especially when working with high-potential talent.
A Practical Example:
Patrick, an employee at Company X, was recently promoted to a management position. His new responsibilities required stronger leadership and emotional intelligence.
To ensure a smooth transition, the company provided one-on-one coaching—delivered in person or virtually. This investment in talent development made Patrick’s move into leadership seamless and stress-free.
The Benefits of Coaching in Professional Mobility
Coaching in support of internal mobility helps to:
- Bring clarity and meaning to one's career
- Navigate organizational changes and evolving objectives
- Boost motivation and engagement
- Build the soft skills required for new responsibilities
- Manage stress and embrace change effectively
Final Thoughts
CoachHub empowers organizations to invest in their people through scalable, personalized digital coaching programs.
By supporting professional development, we help you turn internal mobility into a competitive advantage—for your business and your talent.
FAQ
At CoachHub, we believe in the power of aligning individual growth with organisational objectives. Our dedicated coaches work closely with coachees to ensure that their growth plans are directly linked to your company's overarching goals. This includes addressing specific leadership development needs within different departments or teams, and recognising that each area may have unique challenges and requirements.
To achieve this alignment, we collaborate closely with our clients and their senior leaders, taking the time to understand their organisation's specific challenges, objectives, and organisational culture well. By gaining deep insights into your company's dynamics, we can tailor coaching plans that address the specific needs of different teams and individuals.
Our approach is highly customised and adaptable. We recognise that each coachee has unique requirements, and we leverage our expertise to develop coaching plans that are relevant and effective for all participants, regardless of their role or level within the organisation. Whether it's helping to develop leaders, retain talent, improve leadership skills of middle management, or support C-suite executives, our coaching programs are designed to cater to diverse needs and ensure maximum impact.
By aligning growth plans with your company's objectives, we create a cohesive approach that enhances overall organisational success. Our coaches help coachees identify areas for improvement, set meaningful goals, and develop actionable strategies to bridge the gap between their current competencies and the desired leadership abilities. This alignment not only facilitates personal and professional growth but also contributes to the long-term success of your organisation.
With CoachHub, you can be confident that our coaching programs are tailored to address the specific leadership development efforts within your organisation. By collaborating closely with our clients, we ensure that our coaching plans are relevant, effective, and aligned with your company's objectives, driving growth and excellence across all departments and levels.
At CoachHub, we understand the importance of scalability when it comes to your leadership development program. That's why our programs are thoughtfully designed to accommodate a large number of participants simultaneously, ensuring that organisations of all sizes can benefit from our services. Whether you have a small team or a global workforce, our coaching platform is equipped to handle the scale.
With our advanced digital coaching platform, we bring high-quality coaching directly to employees all over the world. The beauty of our online sessions is that participants can access them from anywhere, at any time. This flexibility empowers employees to engage in coaching without geographical constraints or time zone limitations. Whether they're working from home, travelling for business, or stationed in a different country, our platform ensures that they can easily connect with their coach and participate in sessions at their convenience.
The digital nature of our coaching platform also means that participants can enjoy a consistent and seamless coaching experience, regardless of their location. Through video calls, instant messaging, and other interactive tools, our platform fosters a sense of connection and engagement between the coaches and participants. This virtual environment not only saves time and resources but also allows for regular and ongoing coaching support without the need for in-person meetings.
By leveraging the power of technology, our scalable coaching programs break down barriers and provide accessible coaching solutions to organisations and individuals around the globe. Whether it's a small team or a multinational corporation, our platform ensures that every participant can benefit from high-quality coaching, anytime and anywhere.
Absolutely! CoachHub's leadership development program is designed to seamlessly integrate with your existing talent development and performance management initiatives. We understand that every company has its own unique needs and goals, and that's why our coaching sessions are completely tailored to meet those requirements. Whether you're looking to strengthen leadership skills, foster personal growth, or achieve organisational success, our program aligns perfectly with your company's specific objectives.
By customising our coaching sessions, we ensure that each individual receives the guidance and support they need to thrive. We take the time to understand their strengths, challenges, and aspirations, and then craft a coaching experience that caters to their personal growth journey. This way, we can provide targeted development opportunities that directly contribute to their success within your organisation.
When you integrate our program with your leadership development efforts and performance management initiatives, you create a powerful synergy. Our tailored approach complements and reinforces your existing efforts, allowing you to build a comprehensive framework for maximising the potential of your workforce. Together, we can create an environment where employees are motivated, empowered, and equipped with the skills they need to excel.
So, rest assured that with CoachHub's leadership development program, you can easily integrate coaching into your existing initiatives and achieve remarkable results that align with your company's requirements.
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