Executive Coaching vs. Business Consulting

What Calgary Leaders Should Know

This question comes up a lot, usually from leaders who have already hired consultants and still feel stuck.

Not all consultants who offer “coaching” are actually trained as coaches. In many cases, what is being delivered is still consulting, just under a different label

The simplest way to think about the difference is this.

Consulting is about answers. Coaching is about thinking.

A consultant comes in to diagnose a problem and help build a solution. That might mean improving processes, fixing a financial issue, restructuring a team, or building a strategy. When you need expertise or speed, consulting can be exactly what is required.

Executive coaching works differently. Coaching is not about telling you what to do. It is about helping you slow down, see the full picture, and make better decisions in complex situations where there is no clear rulebook.

In Calgary, I see leaders use consulting when they want certainty and execution. They use coaching when they want growth, confidence, and better judgment under pressure.

Neither is better. They solve different problems.

If your business lacks structure or direction, consulting may be the right first step. If you are dealing with decision fatigue, leadership strain, confidence issues, or the pressure of growth, coaching tends to be the better fit.

Many of the executives I work with have already hired consultants. Coaching helps them integrate all that advice into decisions that actually stick and align with how they want to lead.

If you are unsure which one you need, that uncertainty is often the signal. A short conversation can usually tell us more than another proposal ever will.