Mentoring vs Coaching: Differences and Benefits

One of the most common questions newcomers to coaching ask is “What is the difference between mentoring and coaching?” This is a great question!

The differences are subtle but important to understand before you engage in a coaching relationship. 

The ICF defines coaching as “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. Coaches honor the client as the expert in his or her life and work and believe every client is creative, resourceful and whole.

A mentor is “an expert who provides wisdom and guidance based on his or her own experience. Mentoring may include advising, counseling and coaching.” The coaching process does not include advising or counseling and focuses instead on individuals or groups setting and reaching their own objectives.

The answer, though quite simple, can be a hard concept for new coaches to embrace.  In coaching the client is the expert, whereas in mentoring, the mentor is the expert. 

Simple right?

It’s simple, but new coaches often want to be the answer-giver and problem-solver for clients. Coaches don’t have the answers, instead they help the client find the answers.

The difference between mentoring and coaching primarily revolves around who asks the questions, who sets the agenda, who has the answers, and who is the expert.

MENTORING

Client

Mentor

Who asks the questions? 

X

 

Who sets the agenda? 

 

X

Who has the answers?

 

X

Who is the expert?

 

X

 

Coaching

Client

Coach

Who asks the questions? 

 

X

Who sets the agenda? 

X

 

Who has the answers?

X

 

Who is the expert?

X

 

This matters because everything has to do with how the brain works when we are learning new things.

In coaching, our goal is to equip people to succeed on their own without needing someone to do it for them.  We want them to learn and grow toward success, not just produce a one-time result. Studies show that challenging clients to discover the answers is much more effective for learning than giving the answers.  

People remember things better, longer, if they are given very challenging tests on the material, tests at which they are bound to fail. In a series of experiments, they showed that if students make an unsuccessful attempt to retrieve information before receiving an answer, they remember the information better than in a control condition in which they simply study the information.

Trying and failing to retrieve the answer is actually helpful to learning. It’s an idea that has obvious applications for education, but could be useful for anyone who is trying to learn new material of any kind.”

Mentors give advice to help their clients not fail.

Coaches walk alongside their clients as they challenge them to fail, learn, grow and fail again. 

Each relationship is important and valuable. 

Knowing what each does is crucial as you choose what support you need or are giving in any situation.

Coaching or mentoring?  Which do you need?

Resources:

1. Henry L. Roediger, B., 2022. Getting It Wrong: Surprising Tips on How to Learn. [online] Scientific American. Available at: <https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/getting-it-wrong/> [Accessed 11 April 2022].