Mentor Vs. Coach-Is There A Difference?

According to Brockbank & Ian McGill “Mentoring or coaching has one clear purpose, the learning and development of an individual, a process that involves change, in this case social change” (pg. 9) Mentoring and coaching are common terms used in both professional and personal arena’s. However, research determines that although both have a common purpose, their methods and characteristics differ.

Mentors are Nurtures

Mentors are relationship-based and require a long-term relationship. It’s not uncommon for mentors to have flexibility with mentees, in that the engagement with the mentee is not on a set schedule or time. However, mentees who are passionate about future opportunities and look to the mentor for valued information may consult mentors on a regular basis. Increased engagement can occur especially if life experience plays a critical role in the mentee’s decision-making process.

For example, a mentee may have issues navigating a dilemma with his or her manager. Brainstorming with a mentor to provide possible solutions based on his or her experience (especially if the mentee is a young professional) may increase self-awareness needed to arrive at a solution that will benefit all parties involved.

Mentors are selected based on their knowledge and experience. Hence, it’s not uncommon for a parent or an older sibling to take on a mentorship role as their child or younger sibling enters the adulthood. Alternatively, in most cases, a teacher or a senior level executive may take a particular interest in the development of a student/employee and begins to nurture a relationship where there are sharing knowledge and resources to navigate life challenges.

The mentor to mentee relationship becomes a cornerstone for both individuals in that the mentor becomes part of the mentees transformation process while the mentee will glean and illuminate within their day to day interactions with others. Sharing knowledge and wisdom becomes a method to endow individuals. Whether it’s in the workplace, at home, or with peers mentorship has become a factor in building successful personal & professional outcomes.

When should you seek a mentor?

You should always have a mentor. As stated above, mentors are relationship driven and will assist with knowledge acquirement. Also, the mentor to mentee relationship is nurturing. In that, time is not a constraint or of value. The interaction between both parties grows and matures with time.

Finally, you are not beholding to one mentor. You can have many mentors from different stages in life. These individuals can be in physical or literal form. For example, it’s not uncommon to have a well-known entrepreneur or motivational speaker be a mentor without them personally knowing you. The long-distance mentor can be accomplished by reading biographies, studying their methods, and following their social media. Yes, social media can play a role in obtaining knowledge about a specific aspect of individual interest. It’s not uncommon for leaders to follow Jim Rohn, John Maxell, Anthony Robins and or Grant Cardone on Instagram, Twitter or linked in. These are viable platforms for acquiring knowledge and developing goals.

Coaches help you get to the goal

Coaches are performance-based in that clients hire coaches for a specific goal, In other words clients are looking for rapid transformation. The coach has the job of providing a design for success. Coaches are not necessarily within the same field of business. However, their expertise is in navigating change through developing an accountability plan.

For example, health coaches are very popular. Health coaches provide clients with method to either loose of gain weight. The client main objective is physical in that they want to reach a desired look or size. Based on the client’s attributes, lifestyle and health, coaches will develop a unique program to assist the client with meeting their goals within a specific period in time.

Coaches are result driven with a strategic outlook on client performance. Hence, after their contractual obligation has been met the coach and client relationship is dissolved in theory. However, it’s not uncommon for clients and coaches to transition into mentor/mentee relationships.

When should you contract a coach?

You should hire a coach for personal or professional development. Hiring a personal coach to assist with a personal transformation such as health, lifestyle, changes in the family dynamic (kids left for college, the death of a loved one, finding purpose, defining a vision) provides guidance and empowerment.

Personal coaches will provide in-depth analysis of client cases to enable a deep and rich understanding of the issues that may hinder performance. As a result, coaches will define a schedule and routine to help reach the clients desired goal. You should obtain a coach when you’re serious and prepared to take the necessary steps for self-development. You can waste time and money if you’re not ready to fully commit to the transformation process.

Likewise, contracting a coach for business or professional development is used to ensure professional success. In some cases, executive coaching has provided business owners and senior-level executives with tools and resources needed to inspire change within their personal lives and organizations.

The business coach is the confidant, counselor, and strategic planner rolled in one. The Showtime series “Billions” comes to mind. The series began with the spotlight on the relationship between billionaire Bobby Axelrod and his psychiatrist Wendy Rhodes. Although their relationship is under the guise of a clinical nature, Wendy plays a defined coaching role in developing not only Bobby Axelrod's role in leadership but inspires the performance of senior financial advisors in the organization.

Often-times the coach role can morph into more of a counseling relationship as the coach began to seek out the reasoning behind a stagnant performance. “Hence executive coaching becomes an acceptable form of therapy for isolated leaders with hubristic tendencies” as quoted from Brockbank & Mcgill’s book Facilitating Reflective Learning Through Mentoring & Coaching.

The Recap

Let’s provide a visual recap of the analysis between Mentors & Coaches.

As you can see mentoring and coaching provides benefits to someone seeking out personal or professional change. If you are looking for personal or professional growth please contact me on www.tywanawilliams.com.

Referenced in Blog

Facilitating Reflective Learning Through Mentoring & Coaching by Anne Brockbank & Ian McGill

Billions ShowTime Series, created by Brian Koppelman, David Levien, and Andrew Ross Sorkin, starring Paul Giamatti and Damian Lewis, that premiered on Showtime on January 17, 2016.