I have always wondered if there really is a difference between coaching and mentorship. Which would propel one to greater career prospects? A simple difference is that mentorship generally requires the mentor to have walked the path that the mentee seeks to pursue. Coaching doesn’t necessarily require the coach to have walked the path. So, it is clear that they are different in that regard, but what would be the best one to go for at the early stages of your career?
Maybe a question around timing is a wrong one to ask. One could be a C-suite exec and need either one – so it’s not necessarily a matter of what stage in your career you are in. There are certainly different types of coaching methods and objective. So, for me, an effective coaching relationship has the following three characteristics from the coach’s perspective: (1) Asking powerful questions (2) Enhancing self-awareness (3) Does not require expertise. On the other hand, a mentor would: (1) Share their experiences (2) Provide advice and guidance (3) Needs to have the necessary knowledge and experience.
Being coached allows you to chart your way forward, through guidance from the coach. Although the coach will hold you accountable for your choices and decisions, you should always feel autonomous. Mentorship entails more telling than asking and can be slightly “over-guarded” – i.e. you could miss out on some opportunities to explore certain things that you are curious about, but because your mentor may think it’s a bit risky for you, you could end up missing on a potential strong growth point.
Besides the possible “over-guarded” attribute, mentorship can certainly get you to your desired career level faster.
One is not necessarily better than the other, it depends on what you want and your preference at that time. Before committing to a coaching relationship, make sure you understand what coaching is all about, to avoid being mentored as opposed to being coached. When being effectively coached, you should feel that, during the process, you don’t need the coach anymore, but you keep your coach because you choose to do so, and not because you are obliged.
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