In the April Issue:
"Business coach” has been the catch-all term for someone that helps entrepreneurs with their business. In reality, however, there are three main types of business advisors that each have distinct expertise and approaches.
Hire the right one and they'll help supercharge your business. Hire the wrong one and you can be left regretting your investment. Whomp. Whomp.
Business strategist vs. consultants vs. coach
While not everyone will use these exact words in their titles, understanding the differences provides a helpful starting place to find what you’re looking for. Here are the main differences:
- STRATEGISTS will help you figure out what your business does and how (holistically or specific aspects of it). They will work with you at any stage of business to make decisions and lay out strategies and plans that are right for you.
- CONSULTANTS are specialist experts on a topic (ie. social media). They will help you implement or execute that specific area of your business.
- COACHES will help you develop as a person and a business owner. They will guide you in improving your mindset and behaviors to better reach your business goals.
What they focus on
A strategist helps you set the foundation before implementing and executing. They help you consider the options, make decisions, and develop the strategies so you know what you’re doing and why.
Once this is clear, consultants and coaches will help you implement and execute with excellence. Consultants will help you with the business tactics on the topic you’re working on and a coach will help you with the personal side of running a business—how you show up and how you feel inside.
What order to work with them in
Because a business strategist helps you find clarity in your business direction, I always recommend working with one before consultants and coaches.
Otherwise, skipping straight to implementation and execution without a solid strategy may leave you spinning your wheels wasting time and money.
How they work
Done WITH you is the strategist’s approach. Through hands-on work sessions, they’ll help you think through things, develop creative solutions, and create plans.
Consultants may take a done FOR you approach or support your DIY efforts by teaching you or giving you advice or feedback. This may be done with you live or they may execute the work independently.
Coaches guide you to reach your own conclusions by asking open-ended questions in talking sessions. They may also suggest proven practices to improve your mindset and change your habits.
Who to go to for what
Go to a STRATEGIST if you need help…
- Deciding or reimagining what your business does and how
- Developing strategies or plans for something specific
- Making your biz more enjoyable or profitable
Go to a CONSULTANT if you need help…
- Learning how to do a new thing
- Setting something up or improving it
- Executing something ongoing
Go to a COACH if you need help…
- Changing habits and behaviors
- Dealing with mindset roadblocks
- Reaching your goals faster
Finding the right fit
At the end of the day, the most important thing is to understand what your needs are, so you can find the right person to support you.
ASK YOURSELF: What’s the bottleneck holding me back the most right now?
- Lack of a clear strategy/plan → strategist
- Lack of implementation/execution support/knowledge → consultant
- Limiting mindsets/behaviors → coach
QUESTIONS TO ASK BEFORE HIRING SOMEONE:
- Who is your favorite type of client to work with?
- Who is NOT a good fit for you to work with?
- What problems do you specialize in solving?
- What results can I expect from working with you?
- What is your approach?
- What is the process, timing, and price to accomplish my goals and what happens if it takes longer than expected?
- What’s needed from me to get the most out of working with you?
MEET STACY KESSLER, SMALL BUSINESS STRATEGIST
Stacy helps women solopreneurs figure out how to leave their signature stamp on the world in a way that makes 'em wanna do a happy dance.
She specializes in helping these coaches, consultants, creatives, and other small business entrepreneurs get clear on what lights them up and what their Unique Brand of Genius is. She then helps them create or re-imagine what their business does and how, in order to focus on these things, so they have a clear path forward that they are confident in and excited about.
Stacy believes in being radically intentional in business and life, ditching the hustle, distinctly leaning into who we each uniquely are, experimenting and having fun in business, using business for good, and knocking clients' socks off.
Find Stacy HERE!
Read the full April issue of SHEcorporated Magazine HERE
