Many people think a coach is a trainer whose job is to teach something (e.g., programming). Others think of a coach as a consultant who can share valuable advice (such as how to start a startup or become financially independent).
Very often, coaching professionals present themselves under all three roles. So, it is natural that many people perceive these concepts as almost the same thing, that is, education.
Training, consulting, mentoring, and coaching are different forms of education. Their purpose is to help clients improve their personal and professional lives. All the mentioned forms are based on the theory of adult learning, and their success depends on the professional’s ability to establish positive and constructive contact with clients and also clients’ motivation.
However, a coaching professional pursues this goal differently. Contrary to trainers or consultants who usually tell, coach asks and invites the client to find their own answers to their own questions (e.g., by asking thought-provoking questions) because they believe that the client knows/feels better how and at what pace to acquire the necessary knowledge.
In other words, the coaching philosophy is based on the idea that the client is an adult and responsible person who knows best how to solve the problem, improve the current situation, or achieve the desired goal. The major role of a professional coach is to help the client become aware of his needs, deal with limiting experiences or beliefs, and create an action plan to move towards the desired goal.
The ultimate goal of coaching as a form of education is to help the client become their own coach. When the client is able to become aware of their own needs, copes with feelings and anxiety independently, is able to question their own thoughts, and takes responsibility for their own learning process, we can state that the client is ready for other forms of education (e.g., feels open to receiving the knowledge and experience of others in training or counseling).
Of course, in practice, different forms of education can complement each other. For example, a coach can share their experience if the client wishes to. Also, the professional trainer can ask the training participants how they intend to use the provided information . However, it is important to be able to distinguish when one form of education begins and another ends. It can save a lot of valuable time and money for an individual or organization.