Compare Life Coaching to Consulting

Life coaching and consulting are Very Different! Many people mistakenly assume that the life coaching process and the consulting process are, at least similar, if not the same. Unfortunately, too many people treat life coaching like consulting (and visa versa). Trying to get consulting results from the coaching process or coaching results from the consulting process, will undoubtedly produce very dissatisfying outcomes. Both the consulting and life coaching process offer exceptional results and rewards, when used under the right conditions for the right purpose. But you do NOT want the same person to consult and coach you. Once a person takes the superior consulting position, they void their ability to coach you. Coaching and consulting do not mix.

Life Coaching and Consulting are as different as (American) Football and Golf.
(In fact, the two processes are entirely the opposite!)

Description of the Consulting Process With a Well Known Consultant Example.
(An attorney)

Consultants work on problems for their clients. Attorneys work on legal problems for their clients.

Consultants are recognized experts in their chosen field. Attorneys are recognized as experts in the field of law.

Consultants are expected to provide credentials to prove their knowledge and expertise. Attorneys are expected to show they graduated from law school and have passed the Bar Exam for the States in which they are licensed to practice.

Consultants have a superior position to the client, at least in their area of expertise. Attorneys take the power and superior position with their clients, at least, in the area of law.

Consultants sell their expert advice. Attorneys will sell their legal advice. Attorneys advise clients.

Consultants also perform tasks on behalf of their clients. Attorneys perform most, if not all legal tasks for their clients. They file lawsuits, create and file legal briefs, represent their clients to their opponents and the court, and the list goes on.

Consultants work on problems that do not involve the personal growth of their clients. Legal problems rarely involve the personal growth or improvement of clients, and if they do, most attorneys only focus on the legal aspects.

Consulting clients have little, if any, control over the consulting process. Clients are limited in what they can and want to tell their attorneys. Clients can exercise some control over the legal consulting process, but not much. Clients can have some say so over whether to file and/or withdraw a lawsuit, give settlement conditions, direct attorneys to send intimidating letters, or direct attorneys to file for custody.

Consulting clients have little, if any, control over the RESULTS of consulting. Clients must accept the results or outcome they get from legal actions.

Consulting clients and consultants are not expected to develop personal bonds, and rarely do. Most attorneys and clients keep their personal lives and legal issues very separate. Attorneys normally try to avoid dealing with the personal lives of their clients unless they have to, and then they refer them to others for help. In fact, it is common that the attorney and clients have little if any personal connections.

Consultants seek the center of attention. Attorneys almost always take the limelight and credit during and after the legal process. They like being the star.

Description of the Life Coaching Process Using the Same Consulting Criteria.

Life Coaches assist their clients to achieve their coachable goals. Clients set their goals and the job of their life coach is to make sure they achieve their coachable goals.

Life Coaches are not experts nor do they profess to be. Coaches assist their clients to become the worlds leading experts on themselves.

Life Coaches have few, if any, credentials to prove that they are experts. Instead, excellent life coaches have considerable experience assisting their clients to complete their coachable goals. Actually experiencing personal coaching with a coach offers the best evaluation method for a client.

Life Coaches are Equal Partners with their clients. Coaches do take a superior position. Coaches are like a copilot sitting in the passenger seat of an automobile traveling towards the same destination (The accomplishment of their clients goals). Clients do all of the driving and decision making.

Life Coaches do NOT provide expert advice. Coaches encourage their clients to find the answers that have been within the (expert) clients all along.

Life Coaches perform NO tasks on behalf of their clients. Coaching clients perform all of the action steps to achieve their goals.

Life coaching clients will improve and grow as a person as they achieve their coaching goals.
The goals that are best suited for the coaching process require clients to grow and improve as a person to accomplish them. Life coaching clients reduce their stress, increase their energy, make better decisions, increase their life balance, increase their peace of mind, and focus more on what is really important to them, BECAUSE of participating in the coaching process.

Life coaching clients have virtually TOTAL control over the coaching process.
Both the clients and their coaches must discover the path to success together. The coaching process will not be constrained by a written agenda or organized steps. Instead, the coaching process provides a free forum to discover where the client is and then develop the best path for individual clients to achieve their specific goals.

Life coaching clients have virtually TOTAL control over the RESULTS they reap from coaching.
Life coaching clients set the coachable goals they want to achieve through coaching. Life coaches concentrate on making sure the coachable goals are achieved. The achievement of the predetermined goals produces the RESULTS desired, and much more.

Life coaching clients develop a strong personal bond and trusting relationship with their life coach.
The very personal nature of the life coaching process requires clients and their coaches to develop a very strong mutually trusting, mutually respectful and mutually focused partnership.

Life Coaches make their clients the center of attention Life coaching clients receive all of the fame and adulation that goes with participating in the coaching process. Plus, the coaching process is very confidential and private, and unless the client says something, no one will even know a person has a life coach.