While there can be some overlap between coaching and consulting, coaching plays a role that is distinctly different from consulting in the pursuit of outcome-oriented productivity. Strong coaches always ask more than they tell. Effective consultants may also ask a lot of questions, but the primary motivation for a consultant is usually “information gathering.” The questions a coach may ask are targeted much more at getting to the root of the problem and identifying positive interventions to solve long-term problems. Another key difference between coaching and consulting is that a consultant’s expertise is usually the main thing they are sharing with the client. While a coach will certainly have expertise as well, it’s usually only shared at the end of a longer process of exploration designed to uncover areas for development.

Consulting is mostly a “left-brained” process that’s more about taking systematic steps and interventions to achieve a specific goal. Coaching is more of a “right-brained” activity that is about enabling growth and evolution in skills and capabilities. Proven Paradigm provides both consulting and executive coaching services, either separately, or in combination, dependent on the client’s needs.