Mentoring VS. Coaching

When we think of mentorship, what do we think of?

We may think of an experienced and trusted person who provides guidance, support, and encouragement to someone who is less experienced or knowledgeable? Maybe it’s someone who can offer insights and advice based on their own experiences and can provide valuable feedback and direction to help their mentee grow and develop?

How about coaching? When think of coaching what do we think of? We may think of a more focused and structured approach to helping someone achieve specific goals? Perhaps a coach is someone who can help their client to identify and clarify their goals, develop a plan of action, and provide support and accountability to help them make progress towards those goals?

If we use a bike riding metaphor, a mentor is like someone who is teaching you how to ride a bike for the first time. They may give you advice on how to balance, steer, and brake, and help you to feel comfortable and confident on the bike. A coach, on the other hand, is someone who’s going to say: “how far?”. Someone who is riding alongside you and helping you to achieve your biking goals. They may support you in developing a training plan, create a space for co-creation and motivation with the intention to help you reach your goals. The coach’s focus is on you and how to help you achieve your goals.

Mentoring and coaching are different but both can be valuable in different situations. Mentoring is often focused on overall development and personal growth, while coaching is more focused on achieving specific goals and improving performance. Both approaches can be useful in helping individuals to reach their full potential and achieve success in their personal and professional lives.

So, which type of support are you looking for: mentoring or coaching?

Wynne