Coaching vs. Mentoring

A colleague asked me, “Is there really a difference between coaching and mentoring?”

Absolutely!

In my experience, the most notable difference is the anticipated outcome of each relationship.

A coach focuses on improving performance with actionable feedback.

A mentor focuses on continued development through shared experiences.

Both coaches and mentors make significant impact on your growth and reaching your goals.

I’m fortunate to have a coach and two mentors in my life.

My advice: Identify your goals and seek out what and who you need.

A coach can help you work on specific skills; a mentor can provide career guidance.

The key is to take action and ask for what you need.