<p>Business coaching and business consulting are two important services and chances are you will either offer them or utilize them. What's the difference, you ask? <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coaching">Wikipedia</a> defines as, "Business coaching is the practice of providing support and occasional
advice to an individual or group in order to help them recognize ways
in which they can improve the effectiveness of their business." <a href="http://dictionary.bnet.com/definition/Consultant.html">BNET</a> defines Business Consulting as "an expert in a specialized field brought in to provide independent
professional advice to an organization on some aspect of its activities".</p>
<p>It may seem like a small difference, but it is an
important one. The critical issue is to identify what your business
actually needs.</p>
<p>If you need: ongoing help with reaching max
potential, someone to confirm your decisions, cheer you on, a
transformational relationship with a mentor...you are looking for
business coaching.</p>
<p>If you need: situational help with a specific
problem, to call in an "expert" for advice, an analysis and recommended
remedy...you are looking for a business consultant.</p>
<p>Yes, those definitions are a bit oversimplified
and quite often there will be crossover. I suggest you create specific
definitions for your business and its needs ahead of time. In the long
run, it will help you make stronger decisions about hiring a contractor
for coaching/consulting services.</p>
<p>If you are thinking of opening a consulting business, particularly in Portland, OR, here's some recent research:</p>
<p>Although economic times are challenging in
general, Portland has a positive outlook. Greenlight Greater Portland (<a href="http://www.greenlightgreaterportland.com/">www.greenlightgreaterportland.com</a>) recently released a report indicating that
the metro area would add 100,000 new jobs in 2008 and is predicted to grow
exonomically by 29% or $14 million dollars.</p>
<p>Several growth sectors were also identified: professional,
financial and information services, as well as construction and natural resources. It is predicted that Portland's
professional and business services sector will grow 23 percent to more than
170,000 workers by 2013.</p>
<p>In addition, the American Management Association
(www.workforce.com) recently released a report with positive findings for job
growth in the business consulting/ coaching field. </p>
<p>Among the findings were:</p>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;"><li style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Business coaching is more popular than ever, boosted by
companies struggling to develop a new generation of leaders to replace
retiring baby boomers, and due to a proliferation of business coaches and
coaching training programs.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> Of U.S. companies
surveyed, 52 percent said they had business coaching programs in place,
and another 37 percent said they would be implementing coaching programs
in the future.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Companies use coaches to work with executives,
high-potential employees, problem managers and expatriates headed to
overseas assignments.</li><li style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">Companies that use formal metrics to measure performance
of coaching programs are most likely to report that those endeavors are
successful.</li></ul>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">According to
both local and national sources, it is a good time to be in
coaching/consulting. If you are interested in starting your own
business, I recommend sitting down with a consultant and talking to
them about what it is like in your neck of the woods...</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">For more information on business coaching and consulting, check out www.edgyentrepreneur.com. <br></p>
2008-08-01T14:54:04Z
-19.701
467
1355
true
17
14020
business-coaching-or-business-consulting-whats-the-job-market
2
2008-08-01T21:38:47Z
2008-08-01T21:38:47Z
What's the difference between business coaching and consulting? Are you thinking about using these services or offering them? What's the outlook for the job market for coaches and consultants?
Business Coaching or Business Consulting, What's the Job Market?
0
2008-08-01T21:38:47Z