coaching concepts library

Mentoring is about being a Role Model

Having a role model who has "been there and done that," can be great.  Who would not benefit from having someone who can "show you the ropes"?  Such a mentor can be a great advantage as you move into a new organization or master a new skill.  The Mentor can tell you all about his personal experiences, thus helping to reduce your learning curve with the tasks that are part of your role.  Coaching deals with a lot more.

Your mentor may feel that the way he did something is the only right way to do it.  Your coach, however, will not use his personal experiences as a model of success for you.  Your coach believes that it is best if you develop the skill of finding alternative ways of addressing a situation - and then you pick the one that feels most natural for you.  Your coach may discuss his experiences with you, but only if your coach believes it will help you to see alternative ways of addressing the situation.

Additional Differences

Your coach also helps you to see how you are limiting yourself through what you are doing - and what you aren't doing.  Your coach will help you see how that affects what you are trying to accomplish.  Mentors usually don't do that, because they are focused on what they know.

While your mentor will help you focus on your role and your tasks, your coach is there to coach your whole person.  In working with you, your coach observes how your needs, values, desires and past experiences affect you at work and in your personal life.  Your coach is trained in helping you increase your awareness of how these influence your behavior and performance.  And your coach will be there to help you explore changes that will benefit you. 

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The materials presented in this site are the opinions of the authors and do not fully cover any aspect of coaching.  These materials are presented to help you understand the basic nature of coaching. Should you hire a coach, your experience is likely to differ in at least some respects from what is presented here.