Difference Between Coaching and Mentoring

Coaching and mentoring are two concepts in which the professional accompanies and guides people who want to achieve a series of goals in the emotional or professional aspect.

These two concepts can lead to confusion by believing that they are very similar, but they are different in their implementation. To see the difference between coaching and mentoring, we will previously define the two concepts:

• Coaching: It is a process in which a person is accompanied to achieve something specific, but answers are not given, rather what it is about is that through this help the user finds the answers himself.
• Mentoring: It is the relationship between a mentor, someone experienced and a student who is guided, enriched with their experience and motivated to achieve their goals.

Difference between coaching and mentoring

The characteristics that best reflect the differences between coaching and mentoring are the following:

• Coaching is focused on the objectives as a priority

For example, lose weight and have healthier habits.

The important thing here is to develop a plan associated with objectives to fulfill it. Mentoring focuses on the professional relationship, but the emotional relationship plays a very important part. The trust that a mentor generates is essential for his students.

• Coaching is usually punctual, long-term mentoring

Coaching sessions can be punctual and it is not necessary that they last excessively, depending on the case, but a certain number of sessions can be approximated at the beginning.

In mentoring, they are lasting relationships that continue even after finishing the work together. A greater emotional bond is created and extended over time.

• Coaching is short and medium term, and long-term mentoring

For example, when coaching training is carried out in a company and you start putting the recommended guidelines into practice from the first minute, you will see those results in a more immediate time than mentoring in which you work more individually and with a greater extension in time.

• The learning method is different in coaching and mentoring

In coaching, it is the client who finds his answers as the process progresses. In mentoring this is not the case since from the beginning the mentor's experiences, ideas and guidelines are shared with his student.