Coaching and Mentoring: Ten Differences

If you are ready to equip yourself with the tools you need to move onward and upward to better enjoy the journey of life, consider both coaching and mentoring. Taking a step forward to advance toward a specific goal is often easier if you have appropriate support.

But what type of support is best? Both coaching and mentoring can help but how do you decide which option is best for you?

10 Differences Between Coaching and Mentoring

Read on to discover the ten differences between coaching and mentoring. It will help you to make a more informed decision about your options.

1. Relationship.

In a mentor and mentee relationship there is a distinct need for them to develop the rapport between them. Often they become friends.

This relationship is different in coaching where the rapport between the two is not as important as the partnership mindset. While the client needs to be comfortable with being open and honest, there is less of a requirement for there to be a friendly rapport between the coach and the client.

2. Duration.

In coaching the sessions are more likely to be short-term and bounded by time, while in mentoring the relationship can be ongoing and last for a much longer time.

3. Scope of the role.

A mentor will assist you to develop professionally, regarding your skills and how to apply them in the work context. This is different from the focus of a coach who is expected by the client to work within a set scope on areas of personal development or issues related to behavior, particularly attitudes of self-awareness.

4. Focus.

The focus of a mentoring role is over the long term and holds a general view of your training and development. Coaching has a much narrower focus to develop a particular area or overcome a set issue.

5. Roles.

In both coaching and mentoring, listening is a key requirement. However, where they differ is that in mentoring there will also be an element of role modeling. The mentor will make suggestions of what to do and connect you with people in their network, or to resources.

Coaching is far more non-directive where the client leads the way and is required to access his or her internal resources to pioneer the progress he or she wants to see.

6. Required experience. 

Direct experience in a client’s formal occupational role is not needed to coach effectively, while a mentor will often have experience from within the organization and can give you a big-picture view of your role.

7. Tools.

The mentor will likely not use many analytical tools to help determine answers, while a coach will often use tools – from personality profiling to other set models that will offer alternative insights into the client’s situation.

8. Goals.

The goals of mentoring will likely be wide, encompassing overall development in all areas. Companies often look at this approach when developing teams that can balance their professional and personal lives. Coaching typically has more specific goals.

9. Structure.

The structure of a mentoring session is more informal with the two people meeting when the mentee needs guidance and support. This is different in coaching where the sessions are more structured and there is a more formal, regular meeting time.

10. Agenda.

The mentee generally sets the agenda for the sessions with their mentor and the mentor provides support and advice to help them prepare for future roles, or to develop areas in their life. In coaching the agenda is set by the client who is mostly focused on achieving specific and immediate goals.

In coaching, specific and immediate goals are prioritized. If companies use coaches, then they are often looking to develop certain competencies in their staff.

Determining whether you need a coach or a mentor.

A mentor will have good answers for your questions and a coach will have good questions for your answers. Both coaching and mentoring have many specific benefits. If you are looking for additional help to determine between coaching and mentoring, please browse our online counselor directory or contact our office at California Christian Counseling to schedule an appointment. We would be honored to walk with you on this journey.