Coaching VS Consulting VS Counseling

Attendees included George Curie, Nan Kreamer, Kenyon Sutton, Erica Allgood, Alanna Salussolia, Sam Harding, Zeina Exilus, Heidi Aderman, Joni Roberts, Doug Wilder, Kent Irwin, and Jon Buehler.

Coaches often wear different hats. During the May Coach Jacksonville meeting, there were 12 of us in the room, each person with unique specialties and skillsets; a business broker, CFO, college professor, business owner, marketing consultant, financial coach, strategy consultant, music industry coach, executive coach, curriculum architect, and instructor.

We explored the ways our work incorporates coaching, consulting, and counseling. Nearly everyone in the room indicated that their job involves aspects of all three approaches. Often, we lead with one specialty - consulting, for example - but utilize the other approaches to meet the needs of clients. 

Here is a summary of some of the distinctions in these 3 approaches:

• COACHING 

  • Focuses on future 

  • Developing a person

  • Requires empathy and understanding

  • Asks questions together

  • Listens and leads with authenticity

• CONSULTING

  • Focuses on present

  • Developing a business

  • Requires expert knowledge

  • Finds answers for clients

  • Leads with authority on a specific subject

• COUNSELING 

  • Focuses on past

  • Developing emotions

  • Requires licensing or certifications

  • Finds answers together

  • Acts as an authority on behavioral health, finance or other matters

    
    

All three branches involve growth, improvement, change, accountability, goal-setting, and a new mindset.

RESOURCES:

Listen to the Social Media Examiner Podcast.

Read Non-Violent Communication: A Language of Life by Marshall Rosenberg.

Look at Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.

Take MOREcompassion for People and the Planet - Free Course by Joni Roberts.