Coaching vs. Mentoring

25 Ways They re D i f fe rent

Which approach i s bes t su i ted fo r your o rgan i za t ion s spec i f i c

needs?

Here s a s ide by s ide analys is of the two methodologies

Coaching Task Oriented

Mentoring Rela/onship Oriented

Differentiator #1

Coaching Short Term

Mentoring Long Term

Differentiator #2

Coaching Performance Driven

Mentoring Development Driven

Differentiator #3

Coaching Can be done as needed; no

design necessary

Mentoring Program design needed to

create effec/ve program

Differentiator #4

Coaching Manager directly involved

Mentoring Manager involved only

indirectly

Differentiator #5

"I am not a teacher, but an awakener.

-Rober t F ros t

Coaching More easily evaluated and

measured for ROI

Mentoring Less easy to measure for

ROI

Differentiator #6

Coaching Reliance on performance

management systems, e.g. reviews, 360s etc.

Mentoring Not dependent upon

performance management systems

Differentiator #7

Coaching Feedback by coach to

manager about progress in development

Mentoring No feedback by mentor to

manager

Differentiator #8

Coaching The Coach is paid for

services

Mentoring Mentor receives no

compensa/on

Differentiator #9

Coaching Coach operates

independently

Mentoring Mentors operate with

assistance from the Mentoring Program Manager

Differentiator #10

Coaching No training of coachee

needed

Mentoring Mentors and mentorees

trained

Differentiator #11

Coaching Focus is more on business

issues than personal

Mentoring Focus is on personal and

professional development

Differentiator #12

The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not crea3ng them in your own image, but giving them the opportunity to create themselves.

-S teven Sp ie lberg

Image Credit: Steven Spielberg Cannes 2013 3" by Georges Biard. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons - hJps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Steven_Spielberg_Cannes_2013_3.jpg#/media/

Coaching Lower ini/al investment

cost

Mentoring Higher ini/al investment cost

(lower over /me)

Differentiator #13

Coaching Lends itself to online

soPware

Mentoring Management of the mentoring

program lends itself to soPware but not the rela/onship itself

Differentiator #14

Coaching Coaches leave

organiza/on when done

Mentoring Mentors/mentorees remain in

the organiza/on & can provide ongoing mentoring to others

Differentiator #15

Coaching Done by inside or outside

content expert

Mentoring Mentors are normally within

the company

Differentiator #16

Coaching Can be done for remedial

purposes

Mentoring Never remedial

Differentiator #17

Coaching Internal poli/cs not

usually affected

Mentoring Internal poli/cs a considera/on

in program design

Differentiator #18

Coaching Corporate cultural change

may/may not occur

Mentoring Mentoring is transforma/onal

and affects the corporate culture

Differentiator #19

Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.

-Benjamin Franklin

Coaching Diversity may or may not

be included

Mentoring Diversity is a component of

mentoring

Differentiator #20

Coaching Coaching done 1-on-1

Mentoring Mentoring most oPen is done

1-on-1 but other models may be used as well

Differentiator #21

Coaching Content exper/se more

important in coaching

Mentoring Interpersonal skills more

important in mentoring

Differentiator #22

Coaching Manager can be coach of

own employee

Mentoring Mentor is outside mentorees

direct supervisory line

Differentiator #23

Coaching Coaching is one-direc/onal

Mentoring Mentoring is bi-direc/onal

Differentiator #24

Coaching Coaching is focused on the

business person

Mentoring Mentoring involves the whole

person

Differentiator #25

Coaching is about a behavioral transforma3on. Mentoring is about a personal transforma3on.

-Rene Pet r in Founde r & CEO Managemen t Men t o r s

Want to know more about the differences between mentoring

and coaching?

Download our FREE white paper now!

Weve been helping organizaSons worldwide implement successful corporate mentoring programs for over 25 years. Decades of experience; innovaSve e-mentoring soYware. P.O. Box 67291 Chestnut Hill, MA 02167 617-789-4622

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