Coaching vs. Consulting: What's the Difference?

Executive coaching is getting a lot of attention these days, but there still seems to be confusion about what coaching actually is. For instance, what is the difference between coaching and consulting? While both can offer valuable services, the main difference is in the approach. 

A consultant comes in to diagnose your problem and prescribe a solution. A consultant will also tell the client what steps to take to solve that problem. In this case, the consultant is the expert. In other words, their expertise lies in their specific education and experience. If the consultant was a former CEO, for instance, she will offer what she learned in the role and advise you according to her past experiences.

An executive coach is different. A coach will work with you to identify the problem. But instead of telling you what you should do, a good coach will, instead, guide you to your solution. Coaching leaves room for the client to identify their own skills that will lead to the answers. In this case, the client is the expert, and the coach draws out that expertise. 

Coaching also allows you to build a relationship. And once you develop a close trust, clients are more willing to open up and be vulnerable. They can talk about what keeps them up at night and what they are worried about. CEOs don’t have this luxury unless they are working with someone on the outside where they can be honest. 

I had one client who, after many sessions, I had never heard him swear. One day, we entered into a session, and every other word was a swear word. This client, who had never dropped the f-bomb before, said it about a dozen times in fifteen minutes. He was having a really bad day.

But because we had built a relationship, we had a chance to talk through what was really behind this and how he was doing as a person. What we could have done was focus on every one of the little problems, or we could get to the root of what was really going on. And a lot of it had to do with what was going on in his personal life as well as his professional life. Because of our coaching relationship, we were able to talk as peers and work on the solution together.

So, what’s the difference between a coach and a consultant? A consultant will tell you what to do. A coach will empower you to identify and create your own solution. 

Vibrancy Unlocked coaches CEOs to thrive so they build a better workplace. Contact us at www.vibrancyunlocked.com.