Board of One vs Executive Coaching
Executive coaching costs £500-2,000 per session. Is it worth it, and when does Board of One make more sense?
Quick comparison
| Executive Coaching | Board of One | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | £500-2,000 per session | Fixed monthly subscription |
| Availability | Weekly or bi-weekly sessions | 24/7, instant access |
| Perspectives | One person's viewpoint | Multiple expert personas |
| Documentation | You take notes (maybe) | Full decision logs automatically |
| Context retention | Rebuilds each session | Always loaded, never forgets |
| Emotional support | Strong | Limited |
| Accountability | Human follow-up | Documented actions |
When to choose Board of One
You primarily need strategic thinking and decision frameworks
You want guidance available immediately, not next Tuesday
You value multiple perspectives over a single viewpoint
You want decisions documented automatically
Cost matters—you can't justify £1,000+/session
When to choose coaching
You need emotional support and processing
You value external accountability from a human
You're working through personal leadership challenges
You want a long-term relationship with someone who knows your full story
You're focused on personal development, not just business decisions
Can you use both?
Yes, and many founders do. They serve different purposes:
- Board of One for frequent strategic decisions—pricing, prioritization, hiring framework
- Coaching for periodic deep dives—leadership development, personal challenges, career direction
Using Board of One for the everyday strategic stuff makes your coaching time more focused and valuable. You're not spending £500/hour deciding whether to raise prices—you're spending it on the deeper work that only a human relationship can provide.
Frequently asked questions
Can AI really replace a human coach?
Not for everything. Coaches excel at emotional support, accountability, and helping you understand yourself better. What Board of One replaces is the strategic thinking and decision-making support—frameworks, analysis, and recommendations. If you need someone to help you process feelings about a failed hire, that's a coach. If you need to decide whether to hire at all, that's Board of One.
What about the accountability a coach provides?
Board of One documents decisions and generates action items, creating a natural accountability mechanism. But it doesn't call you to check in or hold you emotionally accountable. If external accountability is your primary need, a coach might be better. Most founders find that documented decisions and clear next steps provide sufficient self-accountability.
Is coaching worth £500-2,000 per session?
Depends on what you get from it. If coaching genuinely transforms how you think and operate, the ROI can be significant. But many founders find they primarily use coaching for strategic thinking—which Board of One provides at a fraction of the cost. Evaluate what you actually get from sessions before deciding.
Can I use both?
Absolutely. Many founders use Board of One for day-to-day strategic decisions and keep a coach for periodic deep dives on personal development, leadership challenges, or emotional processing. They serve different functions. Using Board of One for the frequent stuff can make occasional coaching more focused and valuable.
My coach knows my business well. Does Board of One?
Board of One stores your business context permanently—your metrics, positioning, constraints, and strategic priorities. It doesn't forget between sessions. A coach who sees you monthly might spend 15 minutes getting back up to speed; Board of One never needs that. For strategic context, it's actually better. For personal context (your stress levels, family situation, etc.), a human coach wins.
How do I decide which is right for me?
Ask yourself: What do I actually need from coaching? If it's primarily strategic thinking and decision support—Board of One. If it's personal development, emotional processing, or accountability—coaching. If it's both—maybe both, with Board of One handling the frequent strategic needs and coaching handling the deeper personal work.
Ready to try Board of One?
See how it compares to your current coaching or advisory relationships.