Coach, Consultant, or Integrator? How to Choose the Right Fit
- Randall
- Oct 25, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 1, 2024
Many aspects of your business, such as HR, finance, marketing, operations, and general business management, can be outsourced rather than hiring full-time, in-house staff. When you're considering hiring outside help, it's important to understand your specific needs.
For many small and medium-sized business owners, hiring a business coach or consultant provides access to specialized expertise without the long-term commitment of a full-time employee. However, it can be challenging to differentiate between the various types of support available.
Here’s how I explain the typical roles in business support.
In the business operations arena you typically see coaches, consultants and integrators. There is a lot of variation and overlap, since everyone brings their own unique experience to the table.
In simple terms coaches provide guidance, consultants problem solve and recommend solutions and integrators implement and execute.
Coaches
Coaches primarily assist business owners and leadership teams in reaching their goals and improving personal development by offering guidance, support, and advice. They often focus on providing high-level recommendations and best practices for company strategies and long-term planning.
Many coaches are also excellent educators, teaching leaders how to effectively manage and navigate challenges as they come up. Often, leaders seek out coaches to serve as a trusted resource and support system during times of overwhelm or uncertainty.
Consultants
While a coach helps set goals and develop long-term plans, a consultant typically helps you achieve those goals and address challenges along the way. For instance, if your goal is to increase business by 25% and your sales team is actively closing deals, can your company handle the increased workload?
Business consultants examine your processes and tools to ensure your operations are running efficiently and effectively, aligning with both your goals and long-term vision. This often leads to reduced unnecessary expenses and frees up time for your team, positively impacting workplace culture.
Many consultants will help you identify problems, develop an excellent plan, and then hand it off for you to execute. This approach can work well if you have the time or an experienced team member who can bring the plan to life.
I've seen businesses succeed this way, but I've also seen others hire a consultant, receive great insights, and then let the plan gather dust for months or even years. The primary reason for this is often a lack of time or not having the right person within the company to take charge of implementation.
Integrators
An Integrator, sometimes referred to as a Fractional COO or Change Manager, takes charge of executing or overseeing a plan on your behalf. They can do the work directly or collaborate with your team to implement the strategy.
Although the term "Integrator" may not be as widely known, it gained popularity by the EOS management system. Regardless of the title, these professionals share the same skill set and can help bring your plans to life.
5 Tips For Finding The Best Fit
Don’t Hire Anyone: Like hiring a new employee, it’s important to invest time in finding the right fit for your needs. The effort will pay off in the long run.
Align With Your Values: Do they share similar business values? Are they in sync with your company’s mission, principles, and philosophy? Check out their website, follow them on social media to answer these questions.
Discovery Meeting: Most providers offer a free discovery meeting. In just 30-60 minutes, you can learn a lot about them. Pay attention to their communication before the call, do they engage clearly and set up the conversation well?
Let Them Take the Lead: Use the discovery call as an opportunity to observe their style. Let them lead the conversation and see if they ask insightful questions, allow you to share your needs, and answer your concerns. Also, note how they follow up, do they provide a summary or share any additional insights from the discussion?
Check Yourself: It’s not just a 90’s Ice Cube song, it’s also a crucial skill for leaders. It’s the self-awareness to recognize that you can’t do everything alone and asking for help is okay. Be open to letting someone get an inside look at your business and remember, they’re there to help you, not judge you.
The key is to clearly understand your needs and do the research to find the best fit. Take the time to speak with several people, and when you find the right match, the rewards will come naturally.
