Mentoring or coaching, do you know which one you need?
The Human Edge
Building thriving organisations one entrepreneur, leader and manager at a time.
New here? Welcome!
Hi there! Welcome to the debut edition of The Human Edge’s LinkedIn Newsletter. We’re thrilled to have you join us. Meet THEN, short for The Human Edge Newsletter (how neat ??). We’ll share insights into the inner workings and ripple effect of great mentoring that help people, teams, and organisations lay strong foundations for success. Our events will spark conversations, and this newsletter will be your hub for diving deeper into related content. It's all about open, candid discussions on what we need to grow and move forward confidently. So buckle up and let’s kickstart this journey together!
What’s the difference between Mentoring and Coaching??
As we celebrate our 16th year anniversary ??, one question continues to be asked: What's the difference between mentoring and coaching? And it's for good reason. As one of our dear mentors and coaches, David Russell, often says:
It’s important to recognise that it’s not a pure spectrum, and coaching and mentoring often become blurred.
While both approaches share similarities, they have distinct differences that make them suitable for different situations and individuals.
So first, what is mentoring??
Mentoring?is a relationship-driven process where a more experienced individual, the mentor, shares their wisdom, knowledge, and experiences with a less experienced person, the mentee. Mentoring relationships can be formal or informal. Formal mentoring programmes are typically set up by organisations to provide their employees or beneficiaries with access to mentors. Informal mentoring relationships can develop organically, e.g. when a senior colleague takes an interest in helping a more junior colleague.
Now, what’s is coaching??
Coaching is a more structured form of professional development than mentoring. A coach works with a client to help them achieve specific goals. The coach uses a variety of techniques, such as goal setting, problem-solving, and feedback, to help the client reach their full potential. Coaching relationships can be one-on-one or group-based. They can be short-term or long-term.
Circling back to what David said, the boundaries between coaching and mentoring can indeed be blurry: the evolution of roles, personal styles, overlapping skills and models used, and the complexity of relationships all contribute to this challenge. While there are clear differences between coaching and mentoring in theory, in practice, these distinctions can be nuanced and subjective.
Next Wednesday 22nd May at 1PM UK time, we will host a Fireside chat titled “The Difference Between Mentoring and Coaching,” featuring Mentor & Coach , to explore further these nuances and understand how and when each can positively impact personal and professional development.
We hope to see you there. To register >>> https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMucOuurTMjHNNspDOINVA_hLJiUVPMQ6vr
In the meantime, here are some additional resources for you to explore:?
Keep your eyes peeled for our upcoming events and register now!
·??????? Key Mentoring Skills Focus: What is active listening and powerful questioning? - 19 June, 1PM - 2PM UK time.
·??????? Key Mentoring Skills Focus: How to challenge and provide constructive feedback to your mentee? - Date coming soon.
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If you are interested in learning how you could bring mentoring to your work and how mentoring-centred personalised learning programmes can enhance the impact of your initiatives, contact us now at [email protected].
Talk soon!