The terms that have been popular in recent years – coaching and mentoring – are often mentioned in the same breath. These concepts actually overlap in many fields. In both mentoring and coaching, the process of improving competences and discovering the client’s hidden potential is important. Both working methods are used to support personal development. From the perspective of coaching and mentoring, however, this development looks slightly different.

On the surface, a mentoring and coaching session may seem similar. In both methods of work, the issue of establishing a partnership relationship is important. Its goal is to maximize the client’s potential, and the meeting itself is, above all, a well-conducted conversation. During it, appropriately constructed key questions (life and/or business) are asked.

The most important element that differs these two approaches to working with clients is the issue of knowledge transfer (or lack thereof). Coaching is based on the assumption that the client knows the best solution to the set goal. This client, with proper guidance, will find a way to implement it. Mentoring involves sharing practice and experience. The mentor – as a person who was once at the same stage of development in the given area in which the mentee is currently – provides tips and suggests solutions that may lead to achieving the goal or solving the problem with which the client comes. The coach, however, does not have to have experience in the area in which the coachee works – he does not provide suggestions, does not transfer knowledge, does not share his experiences, but rather supports the coachee in finding the best answers on their own. A coach accompanies, a mentor accompanies, but also teaches.

For the success of mentoring sessions, mutual trust between both parties and a proper understanding of what mentoring is are important. A professional mentor does not give general „how to live” advice. As a result of the partnership relationship that is created between the meeting participants, potential is brought to light that the mentee may not even have been aware of. It is also supported in defining the development goal and achieving it, discovering possible barriers and overcoming them. People who want to become a better employee, plan to change industries, want to take up a business challenge or plan professional development can benefit from a conversation with a mentor. In addition, they may also have a specific goal and want to make sure that the way they are going about achieving it is appropriate. Mentoring is a good solution for people whose limitations result from, among others, lack of specific business knowledge, self-confidence or specific personal beliefs.

The mentor can share his experience and methods with the mentee. However, to achieve the goal, you need the involvement of the mentee – the mentor’s knowledge and experiences are only (and as much!) inspiration. A ready-made procedure manual is not needed here.

How is life coaching different from mentoring? Mentoring differs from life coaching primarily in that it is enriched with the knowledge and experience of the mentor (which he shares). Both working methods strive for the personal development of the coachee or mentee. However, in the case of mentoring, the conversations about life mentioned in the title will be conducted in the context of a business goal. They will focus on determining a career path, solving specific problems and eliminating what makes it difficult to achieve success.

Mentee support through development conversations helps to achieve the goals set at the beginning of cooperation. The help in achieving the goal offered by the specialist and the often inspiring experience and approach to various issues can be used by the client in business, but it is possible that the acquired competences and skills will support the development of the business and other areas of life.

The decision on which work method to choose should be based primarily on specifying your expectations.

Source:https://mentornow.pl/life-coaching-a-mentoring-najwazjsze-roznice/

Supported by Norway through Norway Grants 2014-2021, in the frame of the Programme “Social Dialogue – Decent Work”.