Difference Between Coaching and Mentoring

Main Difference – Coaching vs Mentoring

Both coaching and mentoring involve the practice of guiding an individual through a process. Although many people assume that coaching and mentoring are the same, there are significant differences between them. The main difference between coaching and mentoring is that coaching focuses on developing particular skills of an individual whereas mentoring focuses on the overall progress and development of an individual.

What is Coaching

Coaching is helping another person to improve awareness, to set and achieve goals in order to improve a particular behavioral performance. The main objective of coaching is developing specific skills for a task, challenge or performance. Thus, a coach enhances the skills you already have or help you to acquire new skills. Once you have acquired these skills successfully, coaching is no longer needed. Therefore, coaching is a short-term program that focuses on specific goals.

A coach typically has more experience and expertise than the person he is coaching. The person who is being coached does not usually get to choose the coach. The coach is assigned to him by an institution or organization. It is the coach who sets the agenda and decides the direction of the program. Each session may also be divided into different goals or objectives.

What is Mentoring

Mentoring is defined as helping to shape an individual’s beliefs and values in a positive way; often a longer term career relationship from someone who has ‘done it before’. Mentoring is a formal program or an informal relationship between two people, which focuses on one’s life, career, and support for growth and maturity. Mentoring can go on for a long time because it focuses on a broader view of the person.

The relationship between the mentor and the mentee is informal, and the mentor has a personal interest since he is personally involved with the mentee. A mentor is basically a friend who cares about the mentee and his long-term development. It is an equal, mutually beneficial relationship. Mentors are often facilitators and teachers as they allow the mentees to discover their own direction.

The mentee can make a decision about the mentoring program. He has the right to choose a mentor, select the days and hours he wants to meet the mentor. He can also select the duration of the program.

Difference Between Coaching and Mentoring

Definition

Coaching: Coaching is helping another person to improve awareness, to set and achieve goals in order to improve a particular behavioral performance.

Mentoring: Mentoring is defined as helping to shape an individual’s beliefs and values in a positive way; often a longer term career relationship from someone who has ‘done it before’.