Do I need an executive coach or a consultant?

What does a consultant do that a coach does not?

A consultant brings subject knowledge and often does the work, such as a market analysis or a restructuring plan. The deliverable is an answer or a finished piece of work, and the consultant is paid for being right about the subject.

A coach does not supply the content of the decision and does not claim to hold the solution.

What does an executive coach do that a consultant does not?

A coach works on the person making the decision. Dave asks questions that surface what the leader already knows and what the delay is protecting. The leader leaves each session with a next step they chose themselves.

Dave has run a company, as president of a private equity-owned company from 2018 to 2022, so he understands the seat. He still does not tell a leader what to decide.

How do I know which one fits my situation?

A few plain tests help. If the open question is what the right answer is in a field you do not know, a consultant is the better call. If the open question is a personnel, product, partner or positioning decision you have the facts for and have not made, a coach fits. If both are true, many leaders engage a consultant for the analysis and a coach for the decision.

Can a coach and a consultant work at the same time?

Yes. They answer different questions. A consultant's recommendation still has to be decided on by someone, and a coach can give that leader room to weigh it before acting.

How do I find out whether coaching fits?

A 30-minute intro call with Dave is a fit check. Dave listens to what is on the leader's plate and tells the leader honestly if a consultant would serve better.