Coaching vs. Mentoring

Main Difference

The main difference between Coaching and Mentoring is that Coaching is the process of training and supervising a person to better their performance, and Mentoring relates to the counseling process continued to guide and support a person for his work development.

Difference Between Coaching and Mentoring

Comparison Chart

Coaching vs. Mentoring

Coaching oriented around defined tasks. Coaches are often called upon to help individuals become more proficient in certain areas or address important workplace skills they might be lacking, whereas mentoring oriented around relationships. Although the mentor and mentee might initially focus on specific learning goals or competencies, after a while, they develop a bond and rapport that often transcends specific workplace issues. Coaching is performance driven. The focus is on the present, and mentoring is development driven. The focus is on the future. Coaching has a defined ending. Parties may meet just once, or over some time, however, the relationship usually terminates when the trainee masters the specific skill or goal they were working on, on the other hand mentoring needs a significant time commitment from both parties.

Coaching requires active engagement. A manager must monitor the progress, solicit regular feedback from the coach, and often determine when a coaching initiative should conclude, whereas mentoring requires little oversight. Although a manager may be assigned to administer the logistics of a mentoring program, formal supervision is rarely required. With coaching, measurement is easier. Specific goals clearly defined in advance, and the accomplishment of those goals can be tracked and measured. With mentoring, success usually measured in broad terms. While benefits may include improved morale or lower turnover, it can be challenging for organizations to identify specific key performance indicators that result from a mentoring relationship.

What is Coaching?

Coaching is an ability or aptitude development process, in which a person or a group learn to improve their performances with workshops, seminars, and other same activities. Coaching is a task-based. The coach serves with various tasks and skills to improve the performance of the individual or team. Coaching is short term. The coach works on particular areas, and after a few sessions can review performance and work on another set of skills or enhance and follow-up. Coaching is performance based. Existing skills are improved, and new skills added as the performance improves. Coaching includes critical input from managers and coachees as the coach gives feedback to the players and managers, and everyone included in the process as the performance assessed and abilities or expertise built on together. Coaching is greatly used for companies and sports, even though it has become part of many life skills too. The coach will focus on particular areas needing improvement or help with implement new skills and systems. Coaching is specifically useful for helping talented members of the team or workforce who are not making the most of their talents.

What is Mentoring?

Mentoring is an association between two people and emphasizes a mutuality of learning. However, mentoring is sometimes confused with coaching, teaching, or counseling. Mentoring is a human development action, in which an individual known as a mentor, carries good knowledge and experience impart with another person called mentee who is having less knowledge and skill to help him out in the progress of his work, improving his self-esteem, enhancing productivity. Mentoring is a long term development program. Both parties take some time to accumulate a relationship built on trust so that the mentoree can share their feelings confidently. Mentoring is designed to help develop and add value to the act of the mentoree for the present and the future. Mentoring needs a planning phase to decide on the strategy and purpose of the program within the organization. The mentoring manager closely connected to the process of deciding on the program and skills that will enhance the mentoree but not necessarily intricate in the relationship as the mentor and mentoree require to build confidence and confidentiality in one another. Mentoring is used to growing leaders or for specific skills within a company. It relies on internal expertise and keeps professional, and personal growth needed to uplift a company.

Conclusion

In the ultimate Mentoring would seem more personal and fostering. The mentor seizes the mentoree on a journey of support and inspiration. Coaching, on the other side, offers the same promises of growth and fulfillment, but the journey traveled to reach those goals is one of more rapid growth in a seemingly competitive environment.