Diane Dickson

On your professional journey, there may come a point where your current role starts to feel limiting or constrictive. For me, that moment arrived quietly—after years of coaching individuals through transitions, clarity sessions, and vocational planning. I began to notice a shift: not in them, but in me. I wasn’t just focusing on individuals anymore. I was thinking bigger. I was offering frameworks. I was mapping processes and training new instructors. I was developing programs, curriculums, toolkits and solving problems using replicable solutions. And while my heart was still rooted in the transformative space that coaching holds, my desire to influence at a higher level began prompting me into consulting. At first, I resisted the label. "Consulting" sounded clinical. Detached. Impersonal. I didn’t want to become someone who just delivered PowerPoint decks and walked away. But the truth is, I wasn’t that kind of coach either. I was already blending roles—guiding from the heart and helping clients build structures, strategies, and systems. And that’s when it hit me: This isn’t about choosing between coaching and consulting. It’s about integrating what I’ve become. Letting go of the “coach” identity isn’t easy. It has served me and my clients so well for so long. But what I am shedding is the limitation of a role, not the essence of it. I am keeping: The deep listening The commitment to honoring the client’s journey The belief that growth begins within Today, I am still a coach but also a builder, a pattern-seer, a collaborator and innovator. Someone who still holds space—but now also creates it through systems, strategy, and shared action. My work has evolved because I’ve evolved. And if you’re reading this, you might be evolving too. If you’re a coach who finds yourself giving more tangible tools than you used to; or thinking higher level and more from a systems perspective; if your clients are asking for more structure than just insight; or if you feel pulled toward new ways of serving—but don’t know how to talk about it yet, you’re not alone. There’s a name for this space between roles, and a path through it. And I’ve created something to help. As I walk through this transition, I have built a reflective framework to help clarify what I am becoming professionally. It’s called the Coach to Consultant Integration Framework, and the sampler is now available as a free download. Inside, you’ll find: Reflective prompts to clarify your evolving role Key distinctions between coaching and consulting Language to help you express your new identity with confidence A gentle roadmap to help you integrate and move forward [Click here to download it now] When you can bring your full self—insightful, intuitive, and strategic—to an expansive approach which increases your impact and influence, it will feel like a natural evolution in your professional growth process. Thank you for joining me on this journey of self-discovery and service to others. Look for me in the forums on Create Coach Consult where we can engage in real time on this and many other topics!

Have you ever thought about becoming a consultant? What exactly is a consultant, really? The term can feel vague—almost like a catch-all for anyone running a solo business. The truth is, consulting can look very different depending on your industry, your focus areas, and the types of solutions you offer. How do you want to share your expertise? Are you clear on what your expertise even is? I’ve been pondering these questions myself, having recently stepped into the world of consulting. It’s both exciting and overwhelming! Over the coming weeks and months, I’ll be sharing more about my personal journey into consulting—what I’m learning, what’s working, and where I’m still finding my way. Full disclosure: I do have the benefit of being married to a man who’s been a consultant for 25 years. His sharp business mind and constant availability are definite assets. That said, our fields are completely different, and the model I’m developing is uniquely my own. Along the way, I invite you to join the conversation. I’d love to hear from seasoned consultants who’ve found their rhythm, as well as those just starting out. Together, we can explore the common challenges of launching a consultancy, share best practices, learn from one another, and grow into our evolving roles—as thought leaders, impact makers, experts, mentors, and more. I’m excited to get started—with you.