What do they really do? There are so many different professions, we turn on our computers, go online and it seems like professions blur into each other. From a consumer’s perspective (you) it is easy to start wondering what sets them all apart and more importantly, what they do to benefit you?
Here it will be explained in a simple way to understand the main differences. Have fun with putting your knowledge gained here to the test with the roadmap to determine which one you were initially looking for. Put simply, if you look at a timeline of life a therapist is someone that will be looking into your past and developing the present you hoping to achieve stability for the future (Novotney, 2013). Let’s look at the immediate now, a consultant is someone with experience and knowledge that come to you with answers and advice to solve your puzzle. Similarly to a consultant, a coach also works in the present but instead of giving you the solution, a coach enables your inner self to identify how to get from where you are to where you want to be and take actions on it (Coutu, 2009). We see three professions that are all focused on you and your development. The next is the all so famous influencers, the “follow me for more”, influences have become extremely popular after 2010. Being the centre of attention influencers build communities that all want what is being advertised, they cater for the audience and newest trends. The big question is what do you need? Follow the map to find out.
The Map To Whom You Need; Coach, Consultant, Therapist, Influencer or neither.
(Erasmus, 2023)
The map of whom you need is not a definitive solution, but it will give you a better idea of whom you should contact. Of course, you should still make the investigation and choice, but chatting with someone to find out what they can offer you will give you a better idea of whether or not this is the kind of person you want to collaborate with.
Because even if you choose a coach as an example, one coach is focused and able to work with you while another coach might have a completely different focus, you need to understand what they do before you pay for the service. For example, a career coach and a fitness coach are entirely different. Therefore, if you are searching for a coach in a professional context, you should contact the one who is certified to run workshops and award certifications to participants, as opposed to a coach who cannot offer the same quality of service. Because of this, it is essential to not only find the proper person for the job but also to consider what you want out of life carefully.
References
Coutu, D. a. K. C., 2009. What Can Coaches Do for You?. [Online] Available at: https://hbr.org/2009/01/what-can-coaches-do-for-you
Erasmus, C., 2023. The Map To Whom You Need; Coach, Consultant, Therapist, Influencer or neither. Pretoria: Intendeco.
Novotney, A., 2013. The therapist effect. [Online] Available at: https://www.apa.org/monitor/2013/02/therapist
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