Coaching or Mentoring?

Definitions

The International Mentoring Centre (IMC) defines mentoring as a collaborative, dialogic, and reflective learning relationship with mutual learning agreements and shared responsibilities to facilitate the personal and professional development of the individual or teams to create awareness, increase choices and develop capabilities.

The International Coaching Federation (ICF) defines coaching as a partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximise their personal and professional potential.

Key Differences

ICF Malaysia tabled the differences between coaching and mentoring (click HERE for the full article and comparison) of which we can deduce a few key differences as follows:

• Coaching is a client driven process that focuses on partnering with individuals or groups in self-discovery and to take ownership to achieve the desired goal.
  Mentoring looks at sharing knowledge, best practices and experiences to collaboratively come up with a way forward towards the desired goal.
• The Coach facilitates self-discovery as the client is the expert on their situation and is resourceful as a whole. With heightened self-awareness, the client is able to ascertain the best way forward for themselves.
  The Mentor discusses possible solutions and ways forward, exploring with the individual. With partnered exploration, the best way forward is ascertained.
• The Coach does not have to be a subject matter expert, as they partner in the exploration.
  The Mentor has knowledge on the subject and is able to provide insight and advise.

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