| Everyone needs guidance and help in their personal | | | | the individual or company as a team. Consultants use |
| and professional lives. Whether it is to improve | | | | their expertise in formulating marketing strategies and |
| relationships or to expand business, help can be | | | | time management techniques. Devised after |
| essential. Responsible coaches are can be important | | | | considerable analysis and discussion, this helps in |
| to correct problems, and implement methods to | | | | achieving the required goal in a stipulated time. |
| improve matters. If it is about something personal, | | | | Consultants also create a definitive Internet |
| family friends can be consulted. However, when it is | | | | marketing plan to create a strong base on the net to |
| about business, a more reliable and experienced | | | | spread awareness wider. |
| source is required to ensure positive results. | | | | Like coaches, consultants can also advise on the |
| When problems crop up, businesses can resort to | | | | phone or via the net, depending on what action |
| assistance given by two entities: a coach, or a | | | | needs to be taken, and the time required. Since they |
| consultant. Let us look at how the two function | | | | have wide experience of working with many |
| before moving on to how they differ from each | | | | companies, they can easily find solutions to problems |
| other. | | | | that arise in any business. |
| Small Business Coach | | | | Difference between Small Business Coaching and |
| Small business coaching entails bringing about positive | | | | Small Business Consulting |
| change in the working of an organization and the | | | | Coaches and Consultants seem to have the same |
| workers as a whole. It helps to determine goals that | | | | kind of job, but there are certain factors that |
| meet the best potential of the organization. Coaches | | | | differentiate the two. For example, if it were about |
| devise plans to achieve these goals within a certain | | | | riding a bike, the business coach would explain the |
| period. The main responsibility of the coach is to help | | | | necessity of riding a bike, and why an individual is |
| ailing businesses regain their viability. | | | | unable to. |
| Without focusing on speed, coaches concentrate | | | | On the other hand, a business consultant would |
| more on following an effective plan of action to | | | | demonstrate the distinctive and superior features of |
| improve the quality of business. Sharing a bond of | | | | the bike, and explain how he or she can be good at |
| trust, both the business owner and the coach, work | | | | riding it. Sometimes, they do this by riding the bike |
| as a team to attract more clients and retain better | | | | for you. |
| employees by boosting marketing efforts. | | | | Whether it is an independent proprietor, or business |
| The main objective of the business coach is to | | | | owner with employees, both have to juggle with |
| promote continuous growth through personal | | | | challenges, while managing to keep a check on the |
| development. People usually confuse coaching with | | | | problems and find solutions to keep their businesses |
| psychotherapy, because the behavioral theories | | | | profitable. |
| applied by both are common. However, business | | | | The relationship of the individual with the coach or |
| coaching is more business oriented and goal focused. | | | | consultant is based on trust, respect and |
| Coaching can be done over a period of time on | | | | understanding. Confidentiality being important, they |
| contract basis. This depends on the goals, and the | | | | honor the confidence of the client by not disclosing |
| expected time required attaining them. After a plan is | | | | any private information to others. Lastly, to decide |
| devised, the coach can even interact with individuals | | | | whether they need the services of a coach or a |
| on the phone to keep track of the progress, instead | | | | consultant, the businessperson needs to short list his |
| of having to visit the company. | | | | or her requirements and their work values, and |
| Small Business Consultant | | | | choose whichever is suitable. |
| The role of a consultant is to advise and work with | | | | |