management
Do you know the difference between business training and business coaching?
I get asked these questions a lot:
- Are you a business coach?
- Are you like action coach?
- What is the difference between coaching and mentoring?
- What is the difference between teaching and coaching?
Business coaches are great: they help business to improve in all aspects, increase their profit, improve their processes and many good things. Action coach, created by Brad Sugars is one example of a successful business coach franchise. However, I also know of several people who have worked with a business coach, and not had a good experience, and I don’t want this to be you. So how do you know if you need a business coach, a trainer, a mentor, or something else?
This blog will not focus on the direct methodologies and methods of the different roles: we will be focusing on definitions and questions that you can ask, to help you to pick the right person for you.
Some useful definitions to help you
Please note: These are not dictionary definitions. They are definitions informed by my own years of experience and that of my team. They are what we believe. Other people may say otherwise, but I believe they can be a good starting point for you.
Business coach
These people help a business to set goals and to achieve them. They help with the mission, vision and values of an organisation. They look at processes such as sales, marketing, finance and daily operations. They can help a business to scale and ultimately, to sell, if that is the wish of the business owner. Make sure to ask about a business coach’s credentials:
- Have they done what they are showing you to do?
- What I had their business experience been?
- What is their network like?
- Whom can they introduce you to?
- Do you want to build a relationship with this person?
- Do you trust them?
The ICF- International Coaching Federation- is a gold standard recognised qualification for coaches. If they have this, it is a good suggestion that they can offer you high quality services.
Business trainer
Business trainers offer learning experiences. They improve the knowledge, skills and abilities of individuals or groups. They may work for a training organisation, or they may have their own company, or be part of a franchise. Some trainers offer certified essential qualifications, such as first aid in the workplace, or mental health first aid, courses relevant to certain sectors, or they could be training sessions made bespoke to rhetorical needs of an organisation, I.e. a leadership development programme.
Good questions to ask trainers include:
- What are your qualifications?
- How do you offer follow up support and care after training sessions complete?
- Can you share examples of successful learners- of their opinions and what they have achieved with you?
Teacher
Teachers are qualified professionals. They must have completed a recognised qualification to obtain qualified teacher status. In the UK, once qualified, a teacher must then complete an NQT (newly qualified teacher) year, or two half years, to obtain recognised status. This is where they work in a school, to apply the skills that they have learned in study in real life. A person may study to become a teacher as an undergraduate degree or a PGCE- post graduate certificate of education- in order to obtain qualified teacher status. Different countries train teachers in different ways, and some qualifications transfer and are relevant in other countries, and some are not. Another popular teacher qualification is TEFL- teaching English as a foreign language. This is a more basic qualification, that gives a person the basic teaching skills needed to teach English as a subject, in a different country.
Individual coach
An individual coach is someone who may work with a professional or a group, in an area outside of business. They may work with a business individual on a one-to-one basis, where they help a person to set and achieve goals. Coaches tend to ask a lot of open ended questions, to allow the person to reflect on their situations, and come up with answers.
However, coaching is a huge field and can also cover areas like sports coaching, including managers and head coaches- whose job is to develop a squad to win games.
Instructor
Similar to a coach, is an instructor. However, whereas a coach may focus more on demonstrating strategy and talking tactics in a sports environment, an instructor will take a more active participation role. Here’s an example from my Jui Jitsu days as a martial artist. The instructors were called Sensies, and they would demonstrate techniques themselves. This was crucial to our success: as without seeing them actively demonstrating the skills, we would not have been able to see, learn, practice and understand the techniques. Other instructors could be for dance, gymnastics, other sports etc.
Mentor
A mentor is someone who helps you to grow as a person, over a period of time together. They may be more experienced and older than you, or they may not. You will know when a mentor relationship opportunity presents itself. You will want to be around the person, you will want to ask them questions, you will want them to help you. You will enjoy their company. You will find them inspiring. Mentoring relationships are built on trust and confidentiality. They develop you on the deepest level, often last for years, and can be life changing.
So as you can see, the various roles are all quite similar, and can often blend into each other, depending on the context. For example, your instructor may become a coach for you. Or a business coach may deliver a team training session. So to keep it simple and helpful for you, here is a summary of the roles.
- Business coach– helps company to grow
- Business trainer– helps people to grow
- Teacher– qualified teaching professional
- Coach– improves skills
- Instructor– actively improves skills
- Mentor- helps foster growth through a deep relationship
At Kataholos, I am very fortunate, because I have been able to play all of these roles, to a greater or lesser degree. I am a qualified teacher, and qualified instructor, I also have accreditations in business growth, as well as client relationships as a mentor. But I know that I am a bit unusual, as not every qualified teacher runs their own business and vice versa.
So back to you, let’s finish by helping to guide you towards the growth that you need.
You may need a business coach for your business, as well as training sessions, a mentor, or even an ordinal coach too. That sounds like a lot! It doesn’t have to be. Use these questions below to help guide you towards getting the person or team that you need to help you.
How to pick a good person to help guide you
Questions to ask yourself
- What do I want?
- Is it personal growth? Professional? Or both?
- Do I want to make more money?
- Do I need new skills?
- Do I not know what I need, and so do I need to ask for advice?
- Make the effort to get clear on exactly what you want, so people can give it to you, this is crucial.)
- What would my ideal solution look like?
- What would I not respond well to?
- What kind of level of support would I want?
- How much time, energy and money can I allocate to this? (Don’t worry if you don’t know, just asking the question is a good starting point.)
Questions to ask- before working with a potential business coach, trainer, teacher, instructor or mentor
- Can you tell me about a success you have had?
- What is your approach? (I would recommend that they offer something unique, tailored to your needs, listen out for this)
- What are your qualifications?
- What experience do you have?
- What guarantees can you/can you not make me?
- How do you partner with individuals/teams/companies?
- What do you do if things go wrong?
- What can you offer me/us that you feel is unique?
Final Thoughts
Remember, your trust and confidence in the person is essential in beginning a relationship- even if it is for just for one training session or a one off project. You must have confidence that the person can take you forward, or you should walk away. Do not feel that you have to work with the person, just because they have qualifications or previous successes. They must be the right fit for you, your team, your company. So take the time to ask them proper questions, take time to self-reflect and make a proper decision.
And when you have the right person in place, it is a wonderful experience! Not only will you grow, achieve your goals and improve your abilities, real high quality professionals will take you beyond that, to places they you can’t even conceive of yet.
That’s the kind of person that you want to work with, and they are out there!
