Business Coaching (Chemistry check)
1-Hour session with chemistry check and coaching if chemistry check was successful.
Coaching vs. Mentoring: What's the Difference?
In my conversations about coaching, I've noticed that expectations often blur the lines between coaching and mentoring. While the same individual can fulfill both roles, it’s crucial to understand the key difference between them to avoid disappointment when expecting one and receiving the other.
The Key Difference:
Mentors actively share their knowledge and experience, offering wisdom and guidance based on their own journey. Mentoring can involve advising, counseling, and even coaching. In contrast, coaching is a distinct process focused on helping individuals or teams set and achieve their own goals. Coaches avoid giving advice or counseling; instead, they ask open-ended questions to stimulate thinking and unlock potential.
Both coaching and mentoring aim at personal or team growth but operate through different mechanisms. Mentors introduce new information to shift beliefs and drive outcomes, while coaches focus on maximizing existing resources by refining the thought process.
Another distinction is the duration and structure of these relationships. Mentoring often involves a longer-term commitment, whereas coaching, though it can be long-term, typically centers around specific topics in each session. A single coaching session can be immensely valuable when you're feeling stuck, as it helps unblock your thinking and move forward. Coaches also partner with the client to transform learning and insight into action while still promoting client autonomy.
