Sometimes, we ask ourselves if clients are better off with a business coach rather than a management consultant. But what is the difference? Do you need a business coach? Do you need a management consultant? In what scenarios might both of them be needed? Who tends to hire each of them? What are the pros and cons? So, read on as we try to articulate the answer to “Do I need a business coach or a management consultant?”.
What is the difference?
A business coach focuses on individual abilities and professional career development, whereas a management consultant focuses on strategic advice and solutions to business challenges. In short, one tends to be more focused on people and careers and the latter on increasing business performance and solving problems. Forbes suggests that a business coach uses their experience and fresh perspectives to challenge you, hold you accountable, mentor you, push you and strengthen you. Wikipedia suggests that a management consultant helps organisations to improve performance and to assist in achieving organisational objectives.
Which do I need?
It depends on who and what needs help. We would suggest that senior managers and leaders who seek personal growth and career progression might prefer a business coach. However, senior managers and leaders who face gnarly business challenges, need to grow a business and increase performance in the form of productivity and efficiency, might prefer a management consultant. For those who are struggling to reach the board, get along with the chair or face intense pressure, a business coach may help you. For those frustrated at the lack of progress in resolving problems, making change or increasing effectiveness, a management consultant may provide solutions.
When might I need both?
It is hypothetically possible that you may need a business coach and a management consultant when you both need to push yourself in your career and elevate your organisation’s capability and performance. It is common for very senior leaders to have had coaches behind the scenes to help steer and advise them personally. Also, it is common for senior leaders to call for help from consultants when the organisation is not delivering as it should or could do better.
Ultimately, an organisation is unlikely to shell out for business coaches for all senior to middle managers due to the cost implications. Similarly, an organisation wouldn’t necessarily have management consultants work in every area over the long-term. A career advisor and personal confidant in the form of a coach doesn’t have to substitute a management consultant in the organisation. Similarly, a management consultant working on a project doesn’t preclude a leader developing their skills and career with a business coach.
Evaluating the pros and cons of each
Below are some possible pros and cons of business coaches and management consultants. This list is not exhaustive and in no particular order, though all have been constructed from external research (rather than our opinion).
What are the pros of a business coach?
- Identifies your bias blind spots;
- Finds your weaknesses;
- Challenges you personally;
- Holds you accountable;
- Shares personal experiences and advice;
- Acts as a sounding board.
What are the pros of a management consultant?
- Identifies performance improvements;
- Brings strategic solutions;
- Focuses on organisational challenges;
- Works with teams, departments and divisions;
- Analyses business data, processes and activities;
- Drives change and transformation programmes.
What are the cons of a business coach?
- More focused on individuals than the organisation;
- Expensive to replicate across teams and departments or for the long-term;
- Can be ‘exclusive’ to executive teams and directors;
- May lack the analytical skills and solutions to overcome organisational problems.
What are the cons of a management consultant?
- Not focused on personal growth or individual career development;
- Expensive to replicate across locations or for long-term assignments;
- Can be ‘disconnected’ from the people doing the work;
- May lack the supportive coaching skills to overcome personal challenges.
Wrapping up on if you need a coach or a consultant
There is no reason why an organisation can’t have both, as long as it is clear on when it needs each of them. A management consultant can make an organisation and its management perform better. They can also increase the effectiveness and efficiency of how it better achieves its objectives. A business coach can raise the game of an individual, which may be particularly critical if you aspire to or are in the process of stepping up to board level. They can also help you refine your approach, smoothing out the edges and helping to develop your career ambitions.
Ultimately, a director can leverage a coach to improve themselves. Alternatively, they can deploy consultants to improve the management of the organisation. The reality is not always so clear cut with the former trying to advise on organisational issues and strategy and the latter sometimes offering partner confidant time and training and development programmes. In summary, if you are clear on the need, the decision is easy. Would you let your GP operate on you? Probably not. Would you let a surgeon advise you on a commercial agreement? Probably not. So, let’s keep the separation clear. It’s the person or the organisation.
If you would like to reach out to a management consultant, we would be happy to speak with you.
Alternatively, we recommend that you read a related article on when you need an external consultant. Furthermore, there is an article on what a consultant really is (not an employee).
Finally, check our skills to increase organisational performance and overcome challenges.