Facilitation vs coaching: Differences and similarities

Coaching and facilitation are two powerful tools that help individuals and teams achieve goals, unlock full potentials, and find solutions. Both approaches are based on partnership and active listening and seek to reset participants’ mindset. However, despite the obvious similarities, the two practices have important differences that influence the final result of the intervention.

What coaching and facilitation have in common

Both practices are non-directive. Whether you’re acting as a coach or facilitator, your approach is guided by respect and partnership.
Neutral stance. The “no one knows which way is right” paradigm is equally applicable in coaching and facilitation.
Belief in human potential. The coach is confident that the client is able to find the best solution; the facilitator is certain that the group has the necessary resources.
The responsibility for the result remains with the client or the group. The coach or facilitator create space for thought, but the decision-making rests with the participants.
Encouraging creative thinking. This helps to look at the situation from a new perspective and activate divergent thinking.
Open-ended questions. Similar techniques and mechanics of interaction are widely used in both practices.
A wide range of issues addressed. Coaching and facilitation can be instrumental in a variety of contexts.
Result-oriented. Both practices aim to bring about tangible change.

Main difference: Itinerary vs. open path

The two practices seem to have a lot in common, but what are the differences?

As I see it, they can be described as follows:

The facilitator is a guide who leads the group through a forest or mountains. They would know where point A (the starting point) and point B (the destination) are before the journey begins. The facilitator would never pick songs for you to sing around the campfire, but they would know exactly where you’re going. You can certainly continue your journey after reaching point B, but up until that point, your itinerary is always marked in advance.

Coaching is a different story. You go to the forest and all you know is that point B is there somewhere. In the process, you are allowed to change your mind, deviate from the track and possibly reach the seashore, not just find your way out of the forest. The coach would never dictate where to go, but they would stride along, empowering you to choose the direction consciously. None of you know where your journey will end; what’s important is that it brings positive change.

How facilitation complements coaching

Both practices work with the unknown, but in coaching, the level of uncertainty is much higher. However, facilitation can enrich coaching by helping not only to ask powerful questions, but also to structure the process of finding solutions, facilitate perception and develop creativity.

Facilitation can significantly enhance a coach’s effort, allowing not only to help the coachee, but also to simplify the assimilation of information, stimulate creative thinking and facilitate decision-making. Developing your own style of promoting team transformations and interacting with their leaders becomes an important stage in your professional growth, which motivates you to move on.