Coaching vs. Consulting: Which One Do You Really Need?

If 2025 has taught us anything, it’s that change isn’t coming — it’s already here.

More than 300,000 Black women have been displaced from the workforce this year. That’s not just a number — that’s experience, brilliance, and leadership suddenly left wondering, “What’s next?”

Maybe you’ve been asking yourself that very question. Maybe you’re scrolling through LinkedIn, sipping your coffee, and thinking, “Do I need a coach? A consultant? A whole new career? Or maybe just a nap?”

You’re not alone. The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer — but there is clarity on the horizon.

Let’s unpack the difference between coaching and consulting — because knowing which one you need could change the way you move forward from here.

The Common Ground: Both Help You Move Forward

Here’s what coaching and consulting have in common: both are designed to help you grow, solve problems, and move from where you are to where you want to be.

The difference? It’s how they get you there.

✨ A coach helps you find the answers that already live within you.
✨ A consultant gives you expert advice and systems based on what they know works.

Think of it like this:
If you’re stuck in traffic on the road of life, a coach helps you understand why you keep taking the same route.
A consultant? She hops in the passenger seat with the GPS and says, “Here’s a faster way — let’s go.”

What Coaching Is (and Isn’t)

Coaching is transformation from the inside out.

It’s not about fixing you — because you’re not broken. It’s about unlocking what’s already there.

A coach helps you get clear on your goals, identify blind spots, and break through limiting beliefs. You bring the dream; she helps you see the path.

A great coach doesn’t hand you the answers — she helps you realize you already have them (probably written somewhere in that old notebook you forgot about).

Coaching is best when you’re in transition — figuring out what’s next, craving clarity, or ready to realign your life and business with purpose.

✨ Resource: International Coaching Federation (ICF) — to explore what professional coaching looks like and how it supports growth.

What Consulting Is (and Isn’t)

Consulting is transformation from the outside in.

When you hire a consultant, you’re saying, “I need an expert who’s been there — show me how to do this right.”

Consultants bring strategy, frameworks, and systems. They analyze your situation, identify problems, and give you step-by-step solutions.

If coaching is like therapy for your future, consulting is like a GPS that keeps recalculating until you get there.

✨ Resource: SCORE Mentors — free consulting and mentoring for small business owners and entrepreneurs.

Consultants are especially powerful when you’re starting a business, creating a plan, or building something new — they bring the “how” to your “why.”

Which One Do You Really Need?

Here’s how to decide:

If you’re stuck on clarity, mindset, or motivation → you need a coach.
If you’re stuck on strategy, systems, or execution → you need a consultant.

And sometimes, sis… you need both.

A coach to help you uncover what you want — and a consultant to help you build it.

That’s where my work as both a business consultant and transformational coach comes in. At Dina Lankford Coaching, I help women move from confusion to clarity, and from clarity to strategy.

Because your next chapter deserves both wisdom and structure.

Why This Matters for Black Women in Transition

For the 300,000+ Black women who’ve been displaced from the workforce this year — this isn’t the end of your story. It’s a pivot point.

You’ve spent years building someone else’s dream. Coaching and consulting help you build your own.

They’re not just services — they’re tools for reinvention.

✨ Coaching helps you reconnect with your purpose and rebuild your confidence.
✨ Consulting helps you create systems that make your ideas profitable and sustainable.

You already have the skillset — leadership, organization, emotional intelligence, resilience. Now, it’s about channeling that brilliance into something that serves you.

✨ Resource: Hello Alice — business education, funding, and mentorship for women entrepreneurs.
✨ Resource: IFundWomen of Color — access to capital, coaching, and community for women of color founders.

So… Which One Comes First?

Start with coaching if you need clarity.
Start with consulting if you already have clarity but need structure.

And if you’re not sure — that’s okay. That’s why discovery calls exist.

Because sometimes the real question isn’t “Which one do I need?”
It’s “Am I finally ready to invest in myself?”

Call to Action — Clarity Starts with a Conversation

If you’re standing at a crossroads — between career and calling, or burnout and breakthrough — let’s talk.

✨ Book a complimentary Clarity Call at www.dinalankford.biz.
Together, we’ll uncover where you are, where you want to go, and what kind of support will help you get there.

Because your next move deserves to be intentional — and your story deserves to be written in your own voice.

Final Thought:
You don’t need to have all the answers. You just need the right kind of support.
Whether through coaching, consulting, or both — the goal is the same: to help you move forward with clarity, focus, and transformation.

And if no one’s told you lately — you’re more than capable. You’re just getting started.