Coach vs Consultant, Guide vs Expert

Which is which, and which do you need?

I’ve spoken with clients, prospective clients, and fellow coaches about the difference between a coach and a consultant, a guide and an expert. The distinction matters. Not because one is better than the other, but because they deliver different results and experiences. 

More importantly, you should know the difference, so you can choose which to turn to based on your goals and needs. 

As Dr. Nitschke’s article, on health coaching and mental wellbeing––which I highlighted Sunday––notes, 

Coaching is “not to direct, but to guide clients toward their own solutions and help them recognize that they are the experts on their own lives.”

Consulting tells the client what to do. Coaching, helps the client tell themselves what to do, based on a greater sense of “who they are, why the make certain choices, and how their daily choices can lead to an improved state of mental and physical wellbeing.”

Experts tell you information. Guides, help you figure out how to best apply that information to your life or situation.

How Coaching Works?

How do coaches help you get to the heart of you? Coaches help clients overcome their ambivalence, so they can act on what they already know (for example, you know vegetables over pizza…sleep over video binging… and yet…).

Ambivalence is defined by Merriam-Webster as the "simultaneous and contradictory attitudes or feelings (such as attraction and repulsion) toward an object, person, or action”.

When it comes to behavior change, it’s basically: “I want to….and I don’t want to…”

Coaches use a technique called Motivational Interviewing to help clients examine their actions and feelings, and identify how these push or pull them to and away from their wellness goals. 

Put another way:

Experts or consultants will tell you to eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day.

Coaches or guides will help you understand why you struggle to do that, even though you know you “should” and say you want to.

If you ever find yourself saying, I want to do X but…that’s probably a sign you have enough information from the experts to act. And you need a coach to help you overcome the “but” and take action.