|
Mentoring and
Coaching – Spot the Difference
by
Sally Armstrong
Oystercorp Pty Ltd
Talent Specialists
Winner - National Business Award
mob: + 61 (0)414 428 503
ph: + 61 3 9685 7578
fax: + 61 3 9685 7599
Level 4, 150 Albert Road
South Melbourne, VIC 3205
Australia
In the ten years we have been delivering
coaching and mentoring programs a question we often hear is – " What is the
difference between coaching and mentoring?" So here to clear up the confusion we
cover some basics that are still causing confusion in the market. Included is a
simple one page chart that outlines the main differences between coaching and
mentoring – an easy reference tool for you to use in training or situations
where you may be asked to explain the difference.
There is a
lot of confusion out there about coaching and mentoring, often with the two
terms used interchangeably. This is not surprising as both involve an
experienced hand helping a learner to become more effective. Coaching is a key
skill of a mentor and an effective mentor will have well-developed coaching
skills. Coaching is primarily about skill acquisition, as demonstrated from its
origins in sport. It is action and performance-oriented.
The international coaching accrediting body the
International Coach Federation (ICF) defines coaching as,
“ an ongoing
partnership that helps [people] produce fulfilling results in their personal and
professional lives and…deepen their learning, improve their performance, and
enhance their quality of life”.
Coaching's close cousin, mentoring
involves skills transfer from a more experienced to a less experienced person.
It is a 'strategic approach to developing an employee by pairing that employee
with someone who is more experienced who will teach, coach, counsel and
encourage the mentee' (Management Mentors, 2002). Mentoring focuses on the
overall development of the person and is often about knowledge transfer. In
short - a mentor is someone to learn from and a coach is someone to learn
with. A simple example can be found in Olympic swim coach Lawrie Lawrence –
a coach of champions, however Lawrie is not be a mentor because he has not
competed at elite level, in fact rumour has it that he can't really swim. The
following chart will help to clarify the differences.
Key differences
between coaching and mentoring
|
Coaching |
Mentoring |
|
Relationship is often finite
and short-term ( 3-12 months)
Coaches are more frequently
external to the organisation
Coaches are most often
paid for their services
Goals are clearly
identified
Action-oriented
Results- oriented
Relationship is a
partner-approach
A coach may be the same age
or younger than the person they are coaching
A coach may not necessarily
be an expert in the area they are coaching in (ie they are expert at
coaching the best out of people)
A coach is not necessarily
a mentor
Coaches are most often
formally trained in coaching
|
Relationship is often
long-term, on-going ( 1-2 years)
Mentors are often found
within the organisation
Mentoring is seen as a
benevolent and goodwill gesture
Goals not always as clearly
identified
Process- and relationship
oriented
Outcomes are often oblique
A mentor is usually higher
in the organisational hierarchy
A mentor is usually older,
more senior than their mentee (although peer and reverse mentoring are
also gaining momentum).
A mentor is usually an
expert in the area the mentee is aspiring to achieve in but may not be
an expert at coaching the best out of people
A mentor will usually have
good coaching skills
Mentors are not necessarily
formally trained although many may be naturally good mentors |
Hot Spot: Recent Research
Interested on resent research on ROI for
Executive coaching? Go directly to this address:
http://www.coachfederation.org/pressroom/MetrixGlobal-CoachingROI%20Briefing.pdf
Next month we will be looking at the
qualities and competencies of good coaches and good mentors – and what to look
out for when you are selecting coaches and mentors.
Feel free to send you comments and
suggestions for future topics directly to:
Sally@oystercorp.com
Please feel free to
forward this to a friend in the industry. The content of this newsletter may be
forwarded in full without special permission provided it is used for non-profit
purposes and full attribution and copyright notice are given. For other
purposes, please contact Oystercorp.
|
Member
Content 
