Coaching vs. Consulting: What’s the Difference?

Coaching and consulting share many surface similarities but are quite different upon closer examination. Both professions aim to help individuals who need guidance, but the approach a coach and a consultant take with a new client or project is uniquely different. 

The Coaching Lens

Coaches guide clients by asking strategic questions to help clarify goals and build future bridges, while also helping to relieve some emotional distress. However, not all coaches are the same or abide by the same principles. Some approach clients in the present and are only focused on helping solve current issues, while others (such as the coaches at Reboot) have a holistic approach and work to understand a client’s past, future, and present. 

The type of client a coach accepts can vary greatly as well. Executive coaches primarily focus on working with business leaders, while life coaches (also referred to as health or spiritual coaches) tend to help clients navigate challenging aspects of life. Niche coaches, on the other hand, may focus on a specific group of people, such as couples or families. If you’re searching for a coach, a good place to begin is to think about what you need help with–business, leadership, life, or another area. 

How Do Coaches Compare to Therapists? 

Because coaches can be guides in life or in business, they can often be confused with therapists. But the fundamental difference between a coach and a therapist is that coaches do not use psychotherapeutic methods to treat clients or diagnose mental health conditions. Therapists also tend to focus more on a person’s past than on their future. 

Similarly, business and leadership coaching are frequently confused with consultants, although there are several key differences.

Consulting and Coaching Differences Explained

Business consultants primarily focus on how an organization operates to improve processes, strategies, and deliver measurable outcomes. Consultants rarely work with individuals unless those individuals are part of a larger process that requires strategic improvement. A consultant will not delve into a leader’s personal life or look to help with ethical or moral dilemmas. Organizations hire consultants to perform the more analytical task of viewing structure through a business lens. 

More often than not, consultants are hired when an organization is not performing at its best and requires outside assistance. Viewing each part of a company strategically can help a consultant identify where and how an organization has made mistakes and can aid in repairing issues. When compared to coaching, consulting is more data-based. 

Another critical distinction between a coach and a consultant is the practice of self-reflection. Because coaches work with individuals, self-reflection through therapy, meditation, and other ‘radical self-inquiry’ (a phrase coined by executive coach Jerry Colonna) methods are necessary to both avoid coaching burnout and to help better understand clients. Coaches do not provide clients with answers to problems (as a consultant would), but they help clients identify potential solutions–though it is always up to the client to embrace those concepts. 

Coaching, Consulting, and Therapy Regulations 

Typically, business consulting is not a regulated industry; however, having a degree from a prominent university in the field of business consulting can help obtain clients and garner a higher level of trust. 

Coaches are not always regulated, although some certifications for coaching do exist, such as those offered by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), but these are not mandatory. As with consulting, coaches who hold certifications and undergo training tend to attract more clients and gain credibility. 

On the other hand, therapy is a highly regulated profession that requires graduate training, licensing, and adherence to a strict set of ethics. 

Expected Outcomes with Coaches vs. Consultants

You can work with a coach for as long as you need to. Coaches help you develop personal growth, and that can take time (or it can be a short-term coaching project; it’s really up to you). As you move through your career and find you need someone to guide you, an executive coach may be your best option. In a recent study on executive coaching, the most frequently cited outcomes by senior leaders and CEOs include improved goal pursuit, reduced burnout with increased engagement, and better implementation traction in teams.

Your life and career will be full of ups and downs, and a coach can be there every step of the way to help you make decisions that will lead you where you want to go (and coaches can also help you transition to another career if that is where life leads you). 

If you’re looking for a more short-term solution that’s grounded in roadmaps, tangible reports, and strategies, a consultant will fill that need better than a coach (although coaches who have organizational experience can also guide you through these processes). Typically, consultants are hired for a set term, and once they have fulfilled their mandate, they move on to another organization.

Choosing the Right Service for You

Would a coach or a consultant suit your needs better? Ask yourself if you are looking for someone akin to a therapist (though not rooted in therapy practices, mental health diagnoses, or trained to handle mental health needs) or someone tasked with fixing an organizational issue. You may also consider how long you want to work with the person you hire. 

Are you seeking long-term guidance that focuses on your role (or you personally), or are you looking for someone who can provide a quick, data-driven solution for your entire organization? Answering those basic questions can determine what type of professional you should hire. 

While coaches and consultants may seem very similar, they are actually worlds apart. Both can help with specific needs, and both play their parts (coaches and consultants even work together sometimes!). If you’re looking for an executive coach, Reboot’s coaches have real-world experience, are focused on you as a whole, and are available as needed on a month-to-month or set-term basis.