Every great athlete, high-profile business leader, and celebrity will use a coach to improve everything from their health and fitness to their communication skills. They often use coaches to help them change habits, instill new techniques, and learn new options.
Whether you choose a coach or consultant, the intent is the same. Finding solutions and improving results. The coach is a guide helping you discover possibilities. The consultant is expected to provide the right answers to solve the problem. Sometimes it can be difficult to decide which is the better direction to choose. Let’s explore some considerations as you decide whether a coach or consultant is best for your business.
In 2021, Indeed.com published the article; Coaching vs. Consulting: Differences and Similarities where they identified what makes each discipline unique.
“Coaching requires developing the client’s abilities to solve a problem themselves using a wide range of tools, such as goal setting and accountability. Consulting involves helping the client solve their problems.” (Indeed.com, 2021)
Consultants focus on providing specific solutions for specific issues or problems in short or determined timeframes.
Consultants tend to be subject matter experts
Consultants tend to assess specific problems and then provide specific solutions
Consultants work at higher levels with an organization
Consultants are project or objective-focused
Coaches, on the other hand, work one-on-one with clients and tend to be more long-term focused.
Coaches tend to be more generalist but can have specific areas of expertise
Coaches tend to build relationships with clients
Coaches help individuals become aware of environments so they can find solutions
Coaches help develop specific skills, focus on accountability, and get results through goal-setting
“The main difference between coaching and consulting is that coaching pulls out
answers from the client while consulting tells the client what to do” (Forbes.com, 2018)
Coaching requires a more personal approach and commitment. While consultants target specific departmental talent gaps, coaches work to build the talent up to meet the challenges the business faces.
Coaches are focused on building abilities and skills. Consultants are focused on solving the Problem.
Projects that are best for a consultancy approach have a distinct start and finish or focus duration period. Coaching is an iterative process that is fluid and can evolve and expand as the client’s needs change.
“Hire a consultant when you need an expert who can teach you a process or method.
Hire a coach when you want to discover yourself.” (Forbes.com, 2018) – Leanne Wong,
Leanne Wong https://www.leannewong.com/
Both coaches and consultants have an arsenal of tools, resources, and techniques to bring about desired changes and meet objectives. Coaches and consultants are highly skilled educators and trainers and can impart knowledge in a variety of ways. Coaches and consultants both use systematic questioning to identify opportunities and are both committed to solving a client’s issues. You can employ the skills of a coach and the expertise of a consultant at the same time. Just be clear on the outcomes you want to achieve.
Here are some other considerations to compare to help you decide whether a coach or a consultant is best for your situation:
Coaches | Consultants |
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To learn more about the services an ActionCOACH business coach can offer you, check out the Services section of our website.
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