What’s the difference between a coach, mentor and consultant?

What’s the difference between a coach, mentor and consultant?

Coach, mentor and consultant are terms often used interchangeably. And, whilst there is certainly some overlap, the reality is that there is more difference than similarity.

The difference rises mainly from the core philosophy:

Consultant - ‘I’m the expert, let me do this for you’
Mentor - ‘I have all the experience, just do what I did’
Coach - ‘You’ve got the answers, let’s find them together’

A consultant is useful where … you need a ‘done for you’ solution. For example, an outdated software system that requires a specialist to do a needs analysis, compare options and implement a solution.

A mentor is appropriate when … you’re lacking experience and need the knowledge and insight from someone who’s ‘been there, done that’. For example, opening a store in a country you’ve never traded in before.

A coach is ideal if … you want to achieve your goals faster and are looking for accountability, perspective and insight. For example, taking action in an area of business you’ve been ignoring despite knowing a solution.

Each of the three specialists has different strengths - and you’ll likely need all three throughout your journey as a business owner.

Of course - and full bias here - if you could only have one, a coach would be the best bet. You’ve heard the adage before:

Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day.

Teach them to fish and you feed them for a lifetime.

Teach them to fish well, and they can feed the whole village.

If you’d like to talk about whether coaching would (or wouldn’t) meet your specific needs, book a 15-minute call here.