A small business coach focuses on bringing out the best that already exists within you. Think of the phrase we all heard from our parents, teachers and sports coaches: “Maximize your Potential, Shannon!”
In small business coaching, the focus is typically on the “big picture” of what it is you want to create for your business (and your lifestyle) and talking about what will keep you motivated to move forward on your path. The focus is on developing YOU, and your business, to the highest potential.
If you really break it down linearly, coaches help to create awareness and clarity about where you are right now and what steps got you there. From there, you will gain clarity about where you want to go and create a plan of action that essentially closes the gap between these two moments in time. The next step is implementing this plan and tracking activity as well as progress.
A coach encourages you, supports you, applauds you, and empathizes with you. They help you to discover honest insights into areas that aren’t working by tapping into the answers that already exist within.
The “big picture” is that you create a fool-proof plan for moving forward while the coach supports you in putting that plan to action every step of the way.
Consulting
In the consulting world, an expert is chosen (the consultant) and comes to you as an advisor, whether it’s business strategy planning, marketing, technology, or becoming a solopreneur. They teach you skills, like better time management, better relationships between you and your people, tips in technology, or effective marketing techniques. After careful discussion and analysis of what results you’re looking to achieve, a strong plan of action is created to move you towards your goals.
So what’s the difference?
There is a good analogy that illustrates the difference between a professional coach and a consultant:
- A business coach will help you understand how and why you ride a bicycle, help you to determine what’s holding you back from riding properly, and jog along next to you as YOU ride.
- A business consultant will explain why one bike is superior to another, teach you how to ride the bike, and if necessary, ride the bike for you.
Which one is best for you is based on your needs and values, as well your time constraints and deadlines. Some might think that consulting is a quick and easy way to get the results you’re looking for without learning to seek the answers for yourself, while coaching puts you (the client) in the driver’s seat.
There are a lot of coaches and consultants out there who hold true to these two professions working separately and drawing a distinctive line between them. Here at The Professional Coach Association, we believe that a good consultant should have some coaching training in order to be effective and sustainable and, respectfully, a good coach should be able to utilize some consulting skills to benefit their clients. Using this hybrid method, you ensure the success of your client by:
- Maximizing potential by active listening in order to teach skills that benefit your professional or personal life
- Creating a strong plan to move forward based on the blending of awakened answers within the client and the coach/consultant’s professional expertise
Not all coaches have the level of professional experience necessary to be consultants, and likewise, not all consultants have the required listening and training necessary to be coaches. It takes a special set of tools and training to be able to blend the two in a way that benefits the goals your client is hoping to achieve. Being well rounded is never a bad thing!