Coaching vs Consulting
COACHING vs. CONSULTING: What’s The Difference?
Because Rainmakers Business Development has both professional coaching and consulting, we are often asked what the difference is. As their definitions have changed rapidly in recent years, let’s first set some context. Consulting used to be strictly thought of as a corporate efficiency and accounting function that has evolved to include importing shorter-term contracted expertise from technology, security and other disciplines. Coaching, once only practiced in athletic circles, is now be described as the child born from the parents of business consulting and athletic performance training. Coaching is now gaining ground alongside consulting in both credibility and popularity in not only traditional business environments, but extending its areas of focus into life/personal development, career and life transition, even spiritual exploration. You name the goal ... there’s a coach for it.
The shortest answer around to the question of the difference between coaching and consulting says,
“Consulting provides ANSWERS while Coaching provides QUESTIONS.”
Confused? You’re in good company since definitional searches will often provide you as many answers as there are those who consider themselves qualified to do so. Great analogies have a way of making that which is cryptic crystal clear, so here’s a a baking analogy that’s often used well to describe the question of the differences today:
A COACH…
> helps you understand how and why you bake a cake,
> help you to determine what’s holding you back from baking a really good cake, and
> stand by your side as you bake the cake.
A CONSULTANT ...
> will explain why one cake mix is better than another,
> explain the best cake baking practices, and often…
> bake the cake for you.
Why is coaching gaining popularity so quickly? One explaination comes to us from an old educational axiom that many people “love to learn, but they hate being taught”.
From Optimize! Institute and from Launch3 Founder/CEO Jeff Cohen also come good distinctions between consulting and coaching…
COACHING vs. CONSULTING?
Which is going to serve the needs of your organization most effectively?
There’s a time and a place for both - consider these differences:
Consulting results in change rising from the “purchased” expertise of the consultant. Coaching builds capability within the individuals or teams who are changing.
A Consultant is an expert. A Coach brings out the expert in the person being coached.
Consulting is knowledge and content-based. Coaching is development of capability within the client.
Consulting is corporate based. Coaching is personally based.
Consultants tell. Coaches ask.
Consulting is structured. Coaching is developmental.
Consultants give answers. Coaches elicit answers.
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COACHING vs. CONSULTING: The Differences
Both consulting and coaching involve the use of a skilled, trained professional to assist a client in achieving goals, but each entity is considered a different form of support.
Coaching involves a client who wants to grow either personally or professionally and a coach, a trained facilitator, who will guide the client. Generally a coach works one-on-one with a client but there are times when a group of people will work together toward a common goal.
Consulting involves services that are provided for a specific topic, generally on organizational topics. A consultant will provide an analysis and some recommendations for the improvement of a certain process such as software selection or workflow design. A consultant will work with either one individual within an organization or with a group of people within an organization.
A consultant will provide a solution for the client, such as exactly which road to take to get somewhere. The coach will ask the right questions so that the client can arrive at the destination via the road that is personally best for them. Once the destination, or goal, is reached the consultant leaves the picture while the coach remains on the scene to continue to encourage the client to fully reach their goals and dreams.
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Depending on your budget, your time and the goals for your business’ growth or your own personal development, we here at Rainmakers HQ often find ourselves blending the two, even switching gears after the relationship has started and directives are refined or change altogether.
Remember the “answers and questions” description above? There are more ANSWERS ... and more QUESTIONS ... being exchanged here at Rainmakers HQ. Come join the conversations and let’s see which, if not both, is right YOU!
~ Benjamin Gipson serves as co-owner and managing partner of Rainmakers Business Development, a consulting firm offering project management, online tools and education, and effectiveness coaching.
