The difference between coaching and consulting

Wednesday, 04 February 2009

I am often asked ‘What’s the difference between coaching and consulting?’ (and training, mentoring and counselling but that’s for a later blog). Other coaches will have their own thoughts on this but for what it’s worth, here’s mine -   I once remember my MD defining a business consultant as ‘someone who borrows your watch to tell you the time’. And I admit that the outward experience of having to provide endless amounts of information to a team of ‘outsiders’ in order for them to find a solution on our behalf did seem a bit crazy at the time. But with hindsight I can see that at that time our MD, having a relatively inexperienced team of directors on his hands, and leading us into a complex management buyout, both needed and valued the independent perspective he got from the Lead Consultant who was experienced in this area. And at the same time we got to be part of an adventure which few directors experience.   But with hindsight I believe what was missing in the whole company/consultant transaction was the formation of any kind of relationship with the Board to support us as individuals or which sought to help us grow as part of the process. It was a bit like dancing with my dad when I was little – he stood me on top of his feet and told me I was waltzing. Imagine my surprise when I realised several years later that I couldn’t waltz at all and had to start from scratch!   So what drives me with every client is the chance to clarify and support their business knowledge and deliver their business goals through their own personal skills and the development of their team. Focusing on this gives them the result they want and also the confidence to go on and do even more with or without external support. And it was because of this extra dimension that I coined the phrase ‘Inside Outsider’ – my definition of how I provide the independence of an expert outsider combined with the focus and passion of someone already inside the business.   I hope none of my clients would use the watch borrowing analogy about me but I do like the picture I have in my head of certain clients being waltzed around the office standing on my feet!!   If you are a business owner, an entrepreneur or a senior executive in a larger organisation and would like to experience the benefits of having your own ‘Inside Outsider’ then call or email me to arrange a meeting. There’s never been a better time to pick up the phone

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