Consultant or coach - which is right for me? 

Rather like the old adage, ‘I'm from head office, I'm here to help you', consultants and coaches will both say the same thing. But which to choose? 

Consulting vs coaching 

Consultants are typically called in to develop or implement a change initiative. For example, a new IT system, a post merger re-branding or perhaps a cost cutting exercise. A typical coaching scenario may also take place within any business context, but usually begins by focusing on the performance of an individual, or group of individuals.

Consultants are an extra resource to get things done, solve a problem or analyse an issue. Coaches, on the other hand, help you improve performance - they won't do it for you.

Either approach has its place and you may even need both at the same time.

A coach for sailing

One of our clients described the difference for him when he said: ‘It's like learning to sail. My consultant throws in a manual, but my coach gets into the boat with me.'

Continuing the sporting analogy, a football team is more likely to employ a coach to improve their game, than a consultant to play alongside on the field. ‘A good coach will make players see what they can be rather than what they are,' says one typical football coach.

Questions to help you choose

• Does the coach understand how organisations work?
• How well do they understand my perspective?
• Must they understand my sector? (Sometimes an outside view is helpful)
• Has the coach been trained - and what about refresher training?
• Does the coach have a supervisor to coach them in their work?
• How do I feel about working with them? Comfortable? Excited? Daunted? Uneasy?

What to expect from a coach

Choosing a coach is an individual decision because personal rapport is essential to get the best from the coaching relationship.

• Feedback - your coach should have great observation skills to help you understand the effect of your behaviour on the business and colleagues. Together you'll discuss options for more effective action.
• Preparation - your coach will help you prepare for thinking and acting more effectively through personal strategies. In debriefing to capture the lessons learned, your coach will help you articulate elements of future behaviour that embed better ways of working.
• Challenge - as your coach works with you, so they'll become adept at asking specific questions to shed new light on issues. Together you'll reframe opportunities and develop fresh strategies for action.

"Executive coaches are not for the meek.  They're for people who value unambiguous feedback.  All coaches have one thing in common - it's that they are ruthlessly results-oriented." Fast Company magazine.