Strategist by training and from experience, I sometimes wear another hat in addition to being a consultant: that of coach, where the focus is not much to execute a project or produce a specific deliverable, but rather to accompany someone in achieving their objectives. According to the International Coaching Federation:

“Professional coaches provide an ongoing partnership designed to help clients produce fulfilling results in their personal and professional lives. Coaches help people improve their performances and enhance the quality of their lives.

Coaches are trained to listen, to observe and to customize their approach to individual client needs. They seek to elicit solutions and strategies from the client; they believe the client is naturally creative and resourceful. The coach's job is to provide support to enhance the skills, resources, and creativity that the client already has.”

Personally, I am convinced that quality consulting comes with coaching. Without an excellent understanding of what makes sense for a client, the work of a consultant is bound to be a failure, or at least a less than optimal success, as the client will not be able to take ownership of the results and the deliverable stands to become a nice decoration on a shelf. Most consultants deliver good work – they just forget too often to ensure the adequacy between the client and the work.