The difference between Coaching and Mentoring

We at JZero recently introduced some new Mentoring functionality into our LMS platforms, so the subject of coaching versus mentoring came up in our discussions.

Whilst many believe that coaching and mentoring are the same, the below goes some way to showing the differences between the two options.

Both affect a one-to-one connection between you and a reliable adviser in a setting of discretion, individual growth, and educational regard. Commonly the same individual might serve as your coach and mentor. Consequently, what many businesses call Coaching, others call Mentoring and vice versa. Even some trainers use the terms interchangeably. However, coaching and mentoring are each identifying strategies to personal and leadership development.

So what is Coaching?

Coaches equip you to deal much more confidently and effectively with essential near term problems. They assist you with ideal authority and administration abilities that have lasting, immediate impact. Training often focuses on needs identified in a 360 degree review performed by the coach, your business, or an external advisor. Coaches also offer inspiration, encouragement, and motivation. They prod you to remain on the right path with your most important priorities and goals. Executive coaching focusses on results which could be achieved in a comparatively brief period. As you reach those results, you might select to extend the training relationship by identifying other spots where coaching would profit you. With its concentrate on distinct, near term goals, coaching is structured to attain optimal results in a minimum time number. Training sessions happen weekly or bi weekly, usually lasting from 30 to 90 minutes. More intensive programs may also be accommodated, including two and 3 hour sessions or day long shadowing by a coach.

Ok, so how does Mentoring differ to that?

Mentoring is less organized, longer running, broader in range and pursues a much more open ended agenda. Executive mentoring frequently deals with the broader framework of your life and career. Executive mentors might help you work toward goals which are long range, including targets that stretch well into the future. Mentoring centres around topic areas such as career fulfillment, professional advancement, crucial life transitions and individual growth. Also subjects like preparing you for the next promotion, becoming comfortable in a brand new role, maintaining work life balance, navigating corporate politics and gaining greater mastery of your authority and administration functions.

Mentors also serve as confidants, appearing boards, supportive listeners, guides, and tutors. Compared to an executive coach, your mentor might meet with you less frequently. Mentoring sessions are typically longer and more far ranging than training sessions. Since its scope is much broader than executive coaching, a far mentoring relationship usually lasts at least 9 or ten months.

So you could think of a Coach as your personal trainer where you are asking for specific help and then think of a Mentor as your life guru who is advising you how best to tackle various problems. There are some similarities but fundamentally, they are very different approaches.