The Differences Between Business Coaching And Consulting

1. The Differences Between Business Coaching And Consulting Key Differences Between Coaching And Consulting (And How To Decide What Your Business Needs) Truth Versus Execution The main difference between coaching and consulting is that coaching pulls out answers from the client while consulting tells the client what to do. With coaching, you walk away with strategies for uncovering your truth on your own. With consulting, you get tools that can support you in moving forward and executing. Both can be useful depending on the client's goal and intention Instruction Versus Guidance Say you're learning how to ride a bicycle. A consultant would ride the bicycle for a while and write you a "how to" manual. A coach would have you get on the bicycle and walk alongside you, guiding you through the process until you felt confident enough to ride on your own. 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 Building Capacity Versus Solving A Problem Coaching is the building of capacity. Consulting is helping the client resolve a particular business challenge. The two can be related, but in our work, we typically differentiate between consulting (helping a client address or resolve a specific challenge to operations, reputation, or competitive position) and coaching (helping a leader or team inspire confidence and lead effectively). Outside Expertise Or Internally-Driven Growth A consultant is usually a subject matter expert who provides technical and professional advice to clients based on their significant understanding, knowledge and experience. A coach, however, helps clients find their own clarity and answers, and assists them to understand how to move forward in achieving their goals and grow personally

2. Exploring Versus Providing Possibilities When you coach, you explore possibilities. When you consult, you provide possibilities. Knowing the difference enables you to provide the greatest value to your customer. When you're are coaching, you help them explore possibilities for themselves that they might not see. When you consult, you take those possibilities and provide them with options based on your knowledge and experience. Guidance Versus Authority Developing clients to build to their potential is more an act of coaching which may derive from the client. Technical and subject matter expertise is expected from a consultant. As a career coach, I may not understand coding at the level my client does, but I can guide them to a better, more effective job search. As a consultant I speak as an authority about the job market, search and recruiting. Asking Questions Versus Providing Solutions There is a clear distinction between coach and consultant. A good coach is a good listener, they let silence do the work. They seek to understand through thoughtful and sincere inquiry without judgment. And they guide the client to see solutions for themselves by asking and not telling. Consultants, on the other hand, provide solutions. Long-lasting clarity and growth comes from within Focus On Problem Or On Client In my mind, the key difference between coaches and consultants is where the focus is. In consulting, the focus is on the problem, and the consultant offers up best practices to address the problem. In coaching, the focus is on the client, and on helping them tap into their own ability to solve the problems and challenges that emerge in work and life Business Coaches A coach is someone who works on bringing out the best of what you or your business are. Coaches usually work one-on-one with business owners or management to create more than just a better business. In general, they are life, lifestyle, and business coaches - someone who sees everything in a holistic way and works to better you rather than your business.

3. This might seem hokey to some, but it's a highlight of how much a part of our lives our business usually is. In fact, most successful small business owners are married to their business just as they might be to a spouse. A coach's job is to encourage, support, motivate, and inspire. They find what isn't working with your life and look for ways to fix them. Quite often, business coaches are a relatively permanent fixture for a business, becoming a part of the business owner's or manager's overall team. Business Consultants A consultant, on the other hand, is a business expert and usually works closely with ownership and management. They are interested in all aspects of the business from the janitor to the CEO. They are usually focused on on aspect of the business: manufacturing, marketing, business models, online presence, social marketing, etc. The primary job of the consultant is to teach and suggest direction for specific aspects of the business. Just as you likely outsource your business card printing to someone, you outsource your "fresh perspective" to consultants. They bring an outside view that you cannot get otherwise. Consultants are usually temporary. Brought in for something specific and then, at most, occasionally called in later to maintain or recheck what they've done. The Differences & Similarities Both coaches and consultants are paid fees rather than salaries. Neither are an employee of the business. The primary difference is approach and focus. Coaches are focused on individuals, consultants on processes, teams, or another aspect of the business. Coaches tend to have less tangible effects on profits and balance books while consultants usually have direct, easily- tracked effects on the bottom line. Both coaches and consultants offer a fresh, outsider's perspective on the business that can be invaluable on its own. Which you hire depends on your needs. Many business owners, especially when starting out or when facing uncertainty, need coaching. Many others need something specific done to get to the next level, but see no need or don't have the budget to hire an employee to get that job done - so they get a consultant. In both cases, the business might just need a fresh perspective for a while.

4. As you can see the clear differences in coaching and consulting, they both are extremely valuable and helpful if you choose the right way for your needs. Hopefully this information is enough for you to decide which route you could take. Thanks for reading, and spending some time here… Working with a Business coach can transform your business forever. Don’t wait to find one now. Choose a Business coach and take your business to the next level. Visit now, to know more about Rajiv Talreja – India’s Leading Business Coach, Author & Entrepreneur.