Do you really need a coach?
Listen up – you don't need a coach.
Or actually, maybe you do… but what you need first is to understand the difference between a coach, consultant, mentor, teacher, and service provider so you can choose accordingly. So often, we work with business owners and entrepreneurs who are frustrated with their coach, and it’s almost always for one of two reasons:
- The client doesn’t understand a coach, so they have unrealistic expectations of what the coach can do for their business.
- The coach isn’t defining their services correctly, so they are setting up their clients for disappointment by not communicating clearly and effectively.
Let’s just get it all out there in the open so that we can avoid this situation in the future… and so you can figure out who the hell you need to work with next!
Coach
Someone who asks specific questions & guides clients to come up with their own solutions. (Aka, they can help you see the big picture, but they don’t DO it for you.)
Consultant
A person with formal or professional qualifications in a specific field advising their clients. (Aka, they’re an expert and can offer advice… but again, they aren’t DOING the work for you. You’re paying for their knowledge.)
Mentor
Someone who has been in the same situation/place you are and gives you advice from their own experience. (Do you see the pattern? This person can help guide you based on their own relevant experience… but YOU are still responsible for doing the work.)
Trainer/teacher
A professional in a particular field or subject who teaches a specific skill. (Many course creators fall into this category. They can teach you the steps, but it’s up to you to follow the directions.)
Service Provider
Someone who provides a specific skill or role for a company, typically in a freelance or contract position. (Oh heyyy! This is who you need if you’re looking for a VA, Freelance Marketer, OBM, or Bookkeeper… this is who can DO the work for you.)
Ain't nothing wrong with being a coach or needing a coach. But sometimes, you put unrealistic expectations on your coach because you expect them to be a consultant or service provider. The more clearly you can communicate with a potential coach, consultant, service provider… or client, the more likely you will have a positive experience working together.
After reading this list, you tell us – Do you need a coach?
