The Difference Between Coaching and Counseling

Every professional and every leader has had this experience before. Picture this: You go into the room prepared to do your job. You have the education, the skill, and the experience to do it right. It's what you're here to do.

The problem is that the discussion keeps going off-topic. It's about feelings and thoughts rather than actions and plans. Then you have that epiphany: You're being treated as a counselor.

Obviously, counselors are the exception here — I mean no offense to mental health professionals. It just isn't exactly what many of us get up in the morning prepared to do.

Counseling Versus Coaching

As a coach, I run into this quite often. Many of my clients who provide face-to-face services in medicine, law, and business-to-business fields have shared similar experiences. We're in a position of trust, and people just open up to us.

It makes sense. Coaching is about helping. Counseling is also about helping. However, there is a definite difference between what coaches and counselors offer.

Reflection Versus Direction

One of the most important jobs I have is helping people refine their personal visions of success. These visions point leaders in the right direction. They motivate entire organizations.

I believe that counselors and coaches are complementary. Working through personal challenges and evaluating your true self is essential to becoming the best leader you can be.

Your counselor can help you gain control over your emotions and increase your self-awareness. As a coach, I can show how to use that skill and knowledge to succeed as a leader. I can also help direct you towards skills and knowledge you might want to develop.

Confidentiality Versus Confidence

Counselors and coaches are also different when it comes to the type of trust. You want confidentiality from a counselor and mutual confidence from a coach.

Sometimes, a counselor will need some sensitive information to help you overcome a challenge. You want to know that your secret is safe. That requires confidentiality.

As a coach, one of my main jobs is understanding my clients, but that doesn't mean I need their full life story. I am much more interested in where they are going than where they have been.

Your Coach: Your Guide to How the Game Is Played

I believe you can learn a lot about someone from truly understanding their vision of success. Transmitting that vision clearly builds confidence — it builds mutual trust.

I'm a big golfer, so I'll close with one of my customary golf analogies. A counselor is like a personal trainer — someone to help you work towards personal improvement. A coach is like a golf pro, teaching you how to improve your game.

Leadership is all about vision. Do you have a shared vision of your future – to help everyone work together?