Do you know the difference between a coach and a mentor?

Let me just start by telling you that it is not the same!

According to CIPD (the professional body for HR and people development), coaching and mentoring are development approaches based on the use of one-to-one conversations to enhance an individual’s skills, knowledge or work performance.

It’s possible to draw distinctions between coaching and mentoring, although, in practice, the two terms are often used interchangeably. But it shouldn't be the case!

What is a coach?

Coaching aims to produce optimal performance and improvement at work. It focuses on specific skills and goals, although it may also have an impact on an individual’s personal attributes such as social interaction or confidence. The process typically lasts for a defined period of time or forms the basis of an on-going management style.

Characteristics of coaching:

• Non-directive form of development

• Focuses on improving performance and developing an individual

• Emphasis is on performance at work

• Provides people with tools to better assess their strengths and development areas

• It's a skilled activity, which should be delivered by people who are capable of it

What is a mentor?

Mentoring in the workplace tends to describe a relationship in which a more experienced colleague shares their greater knowledge to support the development of an inexperienced member of staff. It calls on the skills of questioning, listening, clarifying and reframing that are also associated with coaching. One key distinction is that mentoring relationships tend to be longer term than coaching arrangements.

Characteristics of mentoring:

• Relationships tend to be longer-term than coaching arrangements

• Mentoring relationships work best when they move beyond the directive approach of a senior colleague ‘telling it how it is’

• An effective mentoring relationship is a learning opportunity for both parties, encouraging sharing and learning across generations and/or between roles

In a nutshell:

To me, a mentor is someone I admire in my field of expertise. Someone that has a career path that I potentially envision for myself. This person will then understand the hurdles I go through on a daily basis, knows people in the area (to boost my network), and helps me gain skills to excel at what I do. A relationship with a mentor should be a long-lasting one.

On the other hand, a coach is someone that is far removed from my daily reality, which helps me see the bigger picture. S/he helps me understand if I am on the right path (perhaps I am in the wrong industry? wrong role?), supports me in performing a skills gap analysis, looks into my personality and capabilities from a holistic perspective. A coach helps me improve my overall performance and personal development, not just in my field of expertise.

Did you know the difference between both? Or do you use the terms interchangeably?

So, get yourself a mentor AND a coach. Bias aside, trust me, it will make a huge difference in your overall performance.