How does coaching differ from consulting or mentoring?

It’s a question I get asked a lot:
What’s the actual difference between coaching and consulting?

And here’s how I usually explain it…

Imagine Gordon Ramsay walks into a struggling restaurant.
He rewrites the menu,
shows the chef how to cook it,
tells the team how to serve it,
and boom – full house on opening night.

Six months later,
they’re back to serving soggy salad in winter –
because while he gave them the answers,
they never learned how to think for themselves when things changed.

That’s consulting.
It’s directive.
It solves the problem for you.

Coaching is different.
It takes longer –
but it helps you understand how to make those decisions yourself,
now and in future.

You’re not just given the answers.
You’re asked the right questions,
supported to reflect,
and challenged to follow through –
so when the next change comes, you’re ready.

It’s like teaching you to fish,
rather than handing you a fillet.

The real benefit?
You don’t become dependent on a coach.
You become self-sufficient,
confident,
and capable of leading the business
in a way that fits you –
not just the last set of expert instructions.

So, coaching takes longer.
It’s not always comfortable.
But it gives you something consulting often doesn’t:
real, lasting change.