How coaching differs from mentoring.

Given I work extensively across both domains and am often considered a subject matter expert, I am often asked by prospective clients to help them to understand the subtleties and difference between Coaching and Mentoring.

My 25 year Coaching and Mentoring career extends across both the public service and private sectors inclusive of projects within the Not for Profit sector, industry associations, and government funded initiatives targeting youth development, crime reduction, apprentice progression and retention, and community leadership.

Our definition of Coaching and Mentoring differentiation is taken from the Australian Institute of Company Directors Coaches and Mentor CONNECT Programs.

Coaching is focussed on addressing specific development needs. Often these are oriented around skill sets and performance improvement.?Coaching can also include the development of coaching as a leadership style,?Whereas Mentoring on the other hand is a structured (yet informal) approach to knowledge, experience and information sharing.

Let’s demystify the difference between the two so that you can decide what’s best for you or your business.

So, what is the difference between mentoring and coaching?

A simple analogy for business coaching can be taken from any sport. Every successful high-performing athlete or sporting team has a coach, as well as many successful business executives, so why not your business or its business managers?

The coach watches, provides feedback, instructs on whatever skill set needs work, and generally provides powerful motivation to the subject. Like an athlete no matter how expert they are at their skill or craft, successful business operators can utilise someone who is engaged externally to be an objective observer, advisor, and confidante to provide external and dispassionate insight on the performance of the business.

Typically, a coach is someone who assists the athlete to fine-tune their skills and tap into their highest levels of performance. The same principle applies to business operators who want to improve particular areas of their individual or team’s operational performance.

The coach observes patterns of behaviour, systems and processes, and assists and guides the business's employees to improve efficiencies, team dynamics and operational performance.

Mentoring on the other hand is generally a more personalised approach and looks to share know-how and life experience (tacit knowledge) in an immediately useful way. A good mentor shares by asking questions that guide the subject towards conclusions, and logical reasoning that enables them to learn, assimilate and use experiential expertise. A business mentor relates business matters using narrative (stories and examples), posing challenges that require good thinking, scenarios for choices to be considered, and acts as a sounding board for ideas and undeveloped thoughts.

However, mentoring and coaching are also frequently referred to interchangeably.? We believe that mentoring and coaching overlap in the following areas while also having some distinction in each:

?? Both require trust and commitment in the process and substantial interpersonal skills from coach and mentor

??? Both aim for the individual to increase his or her effectiveness and apply it to the tasks at hand in a positive manner

?? Both encourage, stretch and provide support, and challenge in pursuit of excellence and improved performance

?? Both involve an exchange of life and career experiences.

?? Both are collaborative alliances between client and the mentor or coach.

Although there is overlap, there are some distinct differences in the process and required outcomes. Given this, we offer you these definitions for your information. This table will further assist and reinforce the illustration of the subtle distinctions between coaching and mentoring:

If you are keen to explore the introduction of a tailored coaching or mentoring program and framework for your business or team, and believe that you would benefit from utilising the services of an award-winning business coach and mentor, email me direct on? [email protected] or tap into my Calendly diary here to lock in a complimentary 30 to 45 minute discussion on mentorship. Mark Jones Calendar

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