
Photo Credits: The Fayi
Consultant, coach and mentor are three roles that all of us need to play in the business world, regardless of whether we are managers in a large corporation or small business owners.
What is the difference between a consultant, a coach and a mentor?
Each role is usually defined by how close it relates to another person.
A consultant is usually focused on a process, a task or a project, rather than an individual. For example, a consultant may help a company streamline its customer service operations or optimize the use of its warehouse space.
A coach, on the other hand, focuses on improving an individual’s specific performance. For example, a coach may work with an executive to upgrade his presentation skills, with a golfer to improve her swing, or with a job applicant to polish his resume.
A mentor, however, is somebody who gets actively involved in another person’s development (personal or professional). The role of a mentor is not limited to teaching new skills or improving a specific performance, but rather to act as a guide and role model. A good mentor will act as your personal advocate and will often put her reputation on the line for you.

Putting it all together
As a manager of people it is crucial to learn how to be a coach. Becoming a coach is not easy, especially for those promoted to management for doing a great job as individual contributors.
My number one challenge when I was first promoted to management was to stop myself from trying to fix things. Dictating solutions to problems is easy, but it doesn’t let your people, department or company develop and grow. Instead, encourage those who come to you with a problem to also come with a solution. You can then give feedback, guidance and proper training, if necessary.
You also need to play the role of a consultant. This is more important than you think: after a while, managers and business owners get caught in “the way we do things around here”. That leads to consider normal habits and practices that are inefficient and wasteful.
By acting as a consultant you will be able to look at your business from the point of view of an impartial outsider, asking “why” a lot and keeping your company moving in the right direction.
Finally, your own needs for self actualization will encourage you to play the role of a mentor. You can become a counselor and a guide to those who need help navigating their career path. In the end, there is no better investment than the time you take to make a positive impact in someone else’s life.
These days being a mentor has more to do with experience than with age. For example, the explosive growth of the Internet has created opportunities for young, tech-savvy social media experts to mentor older, senior executives who want to succeed in the digital world. Interestingly enough, that kind of arrangement may evolve into a mutual mentorship program, where members of two different generations can learn from each other.
In summary
A consultant is someone who focuses on a project, task or process. A coach is someone who focuses on improving an individual’s skill or performance in a given area, and a mentor is someone who focuses on an individual’s personal or professional development. To be a successful manager or business owner you need to master all three roles.