Comparing Mentoring And Coaching

A searchlight on Mentoring and Coaching
Preamble
There is not one single definition for either mentoring or coaching. While some international bodies have released what they call standards, still a commonly accepted international definitions are missing. Based on the guiding principles of the individual practitioners in this profession, there are many definitions which may all be appropriate as long as the coach and the coachee understand it commonly in spirit and text. Fundamentally, trust, relationship and mutual commitment between these two souls are the foundations that works wonders in producing the desired results of the coaching or mentoring intervention. The Oxford dictionary defines Mentor as " a trusted advisor" and Coach as an
Mentor is the guardian and tutor of Telemachus, whom he raises to manhood while his father is away fighting in Troy. As the story unfolds, Mentor plays a role not only in guiding the protege to manhood, but in peacekeeping, arbitration and preservation of the community. Mentoring: To help the mentee to change something - to improve their performance, to develop their leadership qualities, to develop their partnering skills, to realize their vision or whatever. It always involves a movement from where they are ("Now") to where they want to be ("Where"). Mentoring involves primarily asking powerful and relevant questions, listening with empathy, sharing experience (usually mutually), professional friendship, developing insights through reflection, being a sounding board and encouraging. Mentoring intends to help and support people to manage their own learning in order that may maximize their potential, develop their skills, improve their performance and become the person they want to be and enjoy what they do. Coaching: Coaching is a process that enables learning and development to occur and thus performance to improve. It usually focuses on a specific issue or improvement area. Coaching will help you discover how to unlock the many inner resources that lie dormant and unused in you because you fail to recognize that they are there. A coach is someone who tells you; what you don't want to hear, who has you
In a structured program within an organization where those new to the organization, or those being groomed for leadership and promotion, are partnered with an older, more experienced member or staff. Though there could be exceptions, typically this kind of arrangement involves mostly advisory, informatory and suggestive kind of interaction between the mentor and the mentee. Here, predominantly, the mentor is seen to be doing the talking and the mentee is listening, assimilating and noting down. 2. Within a community setting where individuals make a conscious or unconscious decision to meet together and one shares their life or work struggles with the other to gain the benefit of others experience. 3. In a business environment where professional mentorcoach works with the client to increase their effectiveness at the workplace, to solve workplace or life issues, to help them reach their goals or to gain new skills. 4. Group mentoring or coaching, in a structured situation with group executives, peers and a facilitative mentorcoach. 5. Within a group of peers one-to-one. 6. Multiple mentoring or coaching, where an individual has a number of mentors or coaches for different areas of their life and profession 7. Individuals seeking out external support for making important and transformational changes in their lives 8.