The reason for the name, I think, is self-evident. You will probably resent me, but I promise you will execute better on the plan we agreed on in the sessions.
Actions have consequences. Non-actions also have consequences, and sometimes the consequences of doing nothing vastly outdoes the consequences of doing something. If the action plan we’ve agreed on involves actions that are difficult, tiresome, out of your comfort zone, it can be sorely tempting to find excuses not to do them. I can’t make you do burpees if you’re not executing on the things we agreed on in your action plan, but I can call you every week and ask you how it’s coming along or what to do about it if it’s not.
Being a consultant and being a coach is very similar. You waltz through the door, ask everybody to get you loads of info, is a wise-arse about everything, make an ambitious (too ambitious, way too ambitious) plan that will solve all problems from the coffee machine to the Israel-Palestine conflict, waltz out the door again and shouts: “Easy as pie, friends, and good luck with the implementation.”
Why would anybody pay for that, you might ask. Well, for one it gives you a very good excuse for not getting anything done. “The consultant/coach couldn’t even solve it. We tried, but we just need more people/time/[enter your favorite scarce resource here]”.
Most consultants don’t follow up and help you stay on track, not because they don’t want to, but because you don’t want to pay for that help. Same with coaches. I have an idea that the following up part of coaching is perhaps the most important, but I don’t think you need to spend the same amount of time and money on coaching sessions when you have figured out what you need to do. I think we can get a long way with a weekly stand up meeting on the phone where I help you stay committed and focused.