The Razor's Edge

The greatest challenge in working in the world is to walk the "Razor's Edge" of consulting versus coaching. It doesn't matter whether we are working with clients, colleagues, loved ones or in our community, the challenge is to use the right tool at the right time for the right reason.

Although this sounds a bit "moral" with the connotations that "right" invokes, perhaps "effective" might be a better adjective here. The goal is to have more effective conversations and more effective actions and practices, so knowing when to come from a "thinking space" toward knowing or when to come from a "feeling space" toward knowing is crucial.

As consultants, we emerge cognitively with answers to stated problems then process for execution; systems come first. Conversely, as coaches, we emerge more emotionally, speculating with questions and inquiry before advocacy and support; people come first in the coach's mind.

The trick is to meet our counterpart where they are at present and to make the right choice in the moment for the sake of their concerns, not just to do what is easy or comfortable for us.