Do You Need a Coach or a Consultant?
As someone who has been a consultant and a coach in both the business and sports worlds, I’ve often been asked, as well as pondered myself, the difference between a coach and a consultant. Is it just semantics, or is does an important difference exist that we should be aware. And for our purposes here, when is one better than the other?
What is a Consultant?
Generally speaking, a consultant is hired to analyze a specific situation, and to then give recommendations for, and/or to do the work, as it relates to the issue being addressed. An example of a typical marketing consultant interaction is when a company wants to create a new marketing program and they hire a consultant to craft the strategy and create the various materials, be it copy or logos or auto-responder series or presentations. Then the company is given the program to implement, sometimes with on-going support from the consultant. But how is a coach different?
What is a Coach?
A coach, generally defined, is someone who has exceptional experience in some skill — golf, nutrition, leadership, business — and who works with another to impart their knowledge to the person being coached so that the “athlete” much more quickly develops his or her skills with the intention of maximizing performance.
And the Difference is…
A consultant brings you a dead rabbit for you to cook; a coach teaches you how to hunt, and therefore feed yourself for a lifetime.
I could write an entire book on this subject citing example after example why a coach nearly always provides more lifetime value than a consultant, but why?
Many great consultants are found in every possible spectrum, and this is not meant to diminsh the valuable contributions they make when that type of engagement is appropriate. My point is, however, that a good coach is invaluable for both accelerated and consistent improvement of YOUR performance. Tiger Woods is the best golfer who ever lived (don’t bother me with your arguments against this statement because I truly don’t care), and Tiger Woods has a coach. Should you have a coach? Should I have a coach? The answers are: Yes and I Do!
Tags: Coach, excellence, Lombardi, results
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Mar 10, 2009
Hi Craig! Is this applicable with IT professionals too? Because I haven’t heard anyone from our ranks to be called a Database Coach or a Web Developer Coach.
Mar 10, 2009
Makes complete sense, Craig. Thx for great post.
You mentioned consulting for companies, but how about a coach working a company? Does that work, or should the company focus on hiring a team of coaches?
How does mentoring fit into the picture; is a coach an experienced mentor?
Lot’s of questions, but would love to hear your reply.
Mar 10, 2009
I think you’re right! The best consultants get to be the best by BECOMING more like coaches. They get hired to do a job, and end up cultivating a process. And it involves guiding, teaching, inspiring, and holding people accountable, something that most consultants seem not to do.
Great coaches are great mentors and friends. Great organizations are those in which mentoring is ongoing, and becomes like coaching.
Thanks for Twittering your new site! Great start!
Mar 10, 2009
In this economy they are both the same. Just another way of saying unemployed. Everyone these days seems to be a coach or a consultant. At a recent networking event I met at least a dozen people claiming to be a coach or a consultant. Just because you have worked in a profession for X number of years does not mean you have the brains, talent or ability to coach or consult on that profession. The only thing a coach brings to the table is accountability, which some people need. Tiger Woods coach keeps him accountable to his training but does not show him anything new. If he did he would have a green jacket and be winning on tour. Just my 2 cents.
Mar 10, 2009
The bulk of your comment needs no comment from me; I think most people will draw similar conclusions. The only thing I’ll say is that Vince Lombardi, a coach, never was a spectacular football player nor did he play on a championship team, and I think anyone with more than two cents knows he did more than hold people accountable. As far as Tiger’s coach goes, a bit more than accountability as well, including teaching Tiger a completely new swing 5 years ago when Tiger was developing back problems.
Jun 05, 2009
Another thing about a coach, they are part of the team who live through the ups and downs with the players … a coach an essential part of a winning team. Another word for coach could be conductor … like the guy who stands in front of the orchestra (not the guy on the London bus!) keeping everyone playing to the same score.
Aug 11, 2009
As a parent advocate for Autism in my community I feel you hit the mail on the head! Agreed. A coach is much more involved in your evolution than a consultant could ever be! The word “consultant” just sounds so COLD!