Mentoring vs. Coaching
This time, we're gonna learn more difficult words. Are you ready to expand your knowledge? Well then, I suggest you come with me.
What Is Their Main Difference?
Both refer to guiding someone in learning a new skill. However, 'mentors' do not undergo formal training. They just share the knowledge they have in a particular area, whereas aa 'coach' must be professionally trained.
Differences
As mentioned above, a 'mentor' is someone who has expertise in a particular field and willing to pass it down to others. In 'mentoring', we tend not to have formal assessments. A 'mentor' helps the learner find their own solution, but they are expected to share their own thoughts when needed. Below, there are examples of 'mentoring' for you:
Help someone communicate more effectively.
Promoting diversity and open-mindedness.
'Coaching', on the other hand, includes 'coaches' that are skillfully trained in a particular area. 'Coaching' also includes a formal assessment. 'Coaches' mainly focus on helping the learners find the solution themselves and they are not expected to share their own thoughts. Below, there are examples of coaching:
Problem-solving.
Productivity improvement.
Similarities
Both indicate teaching someone or a group of people the necessary skills they need to perform better. Their goals are also the same. Look:
Teaching your employees how to communicate effectively with the consumers is an examples of '
Emotional intelligence is a necessary skill and we will teach it here. (An example of coaching)
Are They Interchangeable?
Although they are both somehow similar, 'coaching' is more about someone's current professional performance, whereas, 'mentoring' focuses more on improvements in the future. Compare:
Effective communication.
This is a skill necessary for a particular job, so teaching it is an examples of 'coaching'.
Planning on building future mentors and leaders.
This is something that will be useful in the future and it is an examples of 'mentoring'.