discussion

Coaching vs. Mentoring

You may have heard the terms “mentor” and “coach” used interchangeably. In fact, mentors and coaches serve different functions and the terms have distinct meanings. Coaches tend to have expertise in working with people, particularly to help them develop in a specific area. They are often skilled in the area in which they coach. For example, most NBA coaches are former NBA basketball players; most NFL coaches previously played in the NFL. While these examples relate to sports, this practice is true for organizations, as well. On the other hand, a mentor is someone who is willing to support and offer advice in a given area. For example, a mentor could be a business executive who mentors a young professional about the culture of the organization or about how best to make a presentation to the executive team.

After completing the assigned reading, differentiate between coaching and mentoring. Do coaches and mentors share common characteristics? In what situations might the services of a mentor be needed versus those of a coach? Is coaching superior to mentoring or is mentoring superior to coaching?