The importance of small business for the continuing growth of market economies cannot be underestimated, however, the tools for helping these millions of business owners for years seemed out of reach. That is changing, so it helps to understand the difference between a consultant and a business coach.
After all, which small business owner could afford to hire a consultant from McKinsey or Bain?
So can a small or medium-sized business get world-class business help and advice from a different kind of business development professional?
Just as world-class athletes strive to get better by working with the top performers and coaches in their respective fields, more business owners than ever are looking to improve their “game” through coaching.
But what is the difference between a consultant and a business coach?
In short, a consultant usually gives you the answers, while a coach helps you find them and then holds you accountable for acting on them. Both can be valuable, and the right choice depends on what you need. If you want to find out more about how coaching works, have a read of what the work actually involves. For some background on the consulting side, there is a helpful overview on Wikipedia. Knowing the difference between a consultant and a business coach will help you choose well.
