Supporting You and Your Business to Succeed: Business Coach vs Business Strategist

Rewind 9 years... I remember the feeling of deciding to take the plunge and start my own business.

I think the best way to describe it is excited and absolutely terrified in equal measure!

As I recovered from my breakdown and burnout, I knew my next chapter had to involve me making a bigger, more tangible difference. I was utterly driven by impact, meaning and contribution. And I felt the corporate environment was just too constraining for me to do the work that I loved with the freedom to dance to the beat of my own drum, have great balance in my life and the create impact I dreamt of. 

So, like so many others who have taken big risks to make a bigger contribution, I decided to launch myself into the world of entrepreneurship and go it alone.  

I  knew I was really good at my thing, which at the time was primarily Executive and Performance Coaching, but I had no idea how to market either myself or my business or how to position my services.

I had around 16 years of experience working in business as well as creating and developing strategy, but it felt very different to apply these tactics to my own business!

Where to start? A Helping Hand

In short, I quickly came to the conclusion that I needed help! In fact, seeking out expert help has been a huge part of my own business journey and undoubtedly one of the things that has helped me succeed. I really do believe, particularly as women, that we are not wired to do these things alone and in isolation. 

Business Strategist: Analysis and Action

When you scroll through LinkedIn, you’ll often see the terms ‘Business Coach’ or ‘Business Strategist’ pop up - but have you ever wondered what the difference is between them?

Maybe not - after all, they can feel pretty interchangeable! But if you’re feeling ready to invest in support to help your business grow, scale and reach the next level, then you have likely pondered who might be best placed to support you.

In this blog, I’m going to break down the differences between the two roles to help you make the best decision that will give you the best return on your investment.

Business Coach: Guidance and Goals

When athletes want to achieve their best results, they work with a coach to do so - someone who can help them tap into their strengths, work on their weaknesses and help them achieve that ultimate goal. The same goes for entrepreneurs who hire a business coach.

Business coaches can help you focus on your performance, work with you to set goals and stay accountable. They look inward, ask questions to help you reach conclusions and guide you towards making the next best step based on your goals and ambitions, all through personal reflections and insights.

Business Strategist: Analysis and Action

Simply put, whilst a business coach will help you focus on your personal development, a business strategist is focused on your business development.

They will view your business through the lens of strategy, focusing on operations and identifying the external market trends you can tap into to create more profit. They deliver strategic insights and frameworks that you can use to work on your own or together to create a winning business strategy that works for you and your business.

Business Coach vs Business Strategist: Which is Best?

That’s perhaps a misleading question - it’s not necessarily a case of which is better! Both have their place in supporting you and your business. Your choice depends on several factors, so let’s take a look at them side by side to iron out the key differences and identify which might best suit your situation.

Business Coach vs Business Strategist: Key Differences

• Business Coach: The support offered is typically based on your confidence, mindset and performance. Some coaches may help you work through issues as they arise and some may use frameworks. The main thing is you are supported to tap into your inner self and access guidance to clear the fog so you can raise your performance and meet and exceed your goals.
• Business Strategist: You’ll get a step-by-step game plan tailored to your business’s age, stage, type and vision. They’ll either collaborate with you or create the plan for you, whichever is best for you, your ambitions and your budget.

Who Should You Call?

Business Coach: If you’re looking to grow personally and need some inward-focused support, a business coach is your person. For example:

• Struggling with your work/life balance and need some time management tips to get back to your happy place? A coach has got you covered.
• Avoiding making big and tough decisions? A coach can help boost your confidence in your decision-making skills.

Business Strategist: If you need help to look outward and tackle the big-picture stuff like adapting your business model, a business strategist is the one to call. For instance:

• Thinking about opening a new location? A strategist will help you get the lay of the land and map out an expansion plan.
• Want to add a new income stream or product? A strategist will craft a plan to make it a success.

What Does Your Business Need Right Now?

To figure out what kind of help you need, take a moment to think about these questions. Consider it a little taster of what to expect if you hire a business coach or strategist - after all, you’ll need to get used to thinking about these things!

• Where’s your business at right now?
• What’s your biggest goal? Do you want to grow, scale, diversify, or simplify?
• What kind of support do you need to achieve your vision?
• How are your current processes supporting your mission?
• What’s the end game for your business? Do you want to sell or scale?

Answering these questions will begin to paint a clearer picture of the most important strategic priorities for you to address as you grow your business. Most importantly, they will keep you from feeling overwhelmed and doing #allthethings you think you should do, but which don’t actually create the results you want.

The Best of Both Worlds

Whilst in some situations it’s clear cut as to what support you might need, sometimes you need a little bit of one and a little bit of the other.

"Towards the end of last year I felt like I was just plodding.  My business was doing fine,  I was making good money but my heart wasn’t singing.

I decided it was time to call Mel to tell her I was ready to work with her.

I have now had 3 coaching sessions and have a complete refocus on my business and I am excited about taking control of my future.

Mel has helped me to look up and believe in the art of the possibilities.  I have more energy, more focus and I am making huge strides - with more clients and more revenue along with clarity on exactly how I want to grow and market my business further. Sometimes it is as simple as saying the things you are thinking out loud to release you from yourself.

Mel is the gift that keeps on giving."

Gail Partridge, Founder of PGZ Consulting

That’s where I come in. I truly believe that doing both the inner and outer work is necessary for evolving your business and enabling big growth spurts that push you onwards and upwards!

As a performance coach, I help you grow in confidence, dream bigger than before and iron out the inner kinks that can so often stop you from reaching your next level of success.

And as a business strategist, I work with you to identify the best business growth strategy, to create more revenue and reach more people which of course means creating a bigger impact in the way that really matters to you. It’s not only the best of both worlds (and you can save yourself a lot of money investing twice!) but I deeply believe it’s the solution that is sorely lacking in the marketplace to help you succeed in business and become a healthier, happier more fulfilled person at the same time. 

If this sounds like the type of support that would help you right now, the simple next step is to book your complimentary business strategy session.

It’s an opportunity for us to connect and for me to review your existing strategy and offer recommendations to help you reach your next level of growth. The first session is on me and if we feel that working together will help you realise your ambitions, then we can explore the perfect programme of strategic support. But this isn’t always the outcome; sometimes you get what you need to see you on your way.

Crafting Your Path to Success with the Right Guidance

Business coaches and strategists both have unique and valuable roles to play in your business journey. Individually they can help you with either your personal development or provide you with strategic insights and actionable plans to drive your business forward.

But it doesn’t have to be a clear-cut choice - by combining the two, you can leverage the strengths of both worlds and receive incredible support for both personal and business growth.  This is exactly why as a performance coach and business strategist, I can offer you just that and provide you with a holistic approach to supporting your journey towards achieving your business goals.

The most important thing to remember is this: the right support can make all the difference in turning your business vision into a reality. So reflect on your needs, answer the critical questions about your business stage and goals and choose a path that will best support your journey to success.