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 ² Task Oriented
Mentoring ² Rela/onship Oriented
Differentiator #1
Coaching ² Short Term
Mentoring ² Long Term
Differentiator #2
Coaching ² Performance Driven
Mentoring ² Development Driven
Differentiator #3
Coaching ² Can be done as needed; no
design necessary
Mentoring ² Program design needed to
create effec/ve program
Differentiator #4
Coaching ² Manager directly involved
Mentoring ² Manager involved only
indirectly
Differentiator #5
"I am not a teacher, but an awakener.”
-Rober t F ros t
Coaching ² More easily evaluated and
measured for ROI
Mentoring ² Less easy to measure for
ROI
Differentiator #6
Coaching ² Reliance on performance
management systems, e.g. reviews, 360’s etc.
Mentoring ² Not dependent upon
performance management systems
Differentiator #7
Coaching ² Feedback by coach to
manager about progress in development
Mentoring ² No feedback by mentor to
manager
Differentiator #8
Coaching ² The Coach is paid for
services
Mentoring ² Mentor receives no
compensa/on
Differentiator #9
Coaching ² Coach operates
independently
Mentoring ² Mentors operate with
assistance from the Mentoring Program Manager
Differentiator #10
Coaching ² No training of coachee
needed
Mentoring ² Mentors and mentorees
trained
Differentiator #11
Coaching ² Focus is more on business
issues than personal
Mentoring ² 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 ² Lower ini/al investment
cost
Mentoring ² Higher ini/al investment cost
(lower over /me)
Differentiator #13
Coaching ² Lends itself to online
soPware
Mentoring ² Management of the mentoring
program lends itself to soPware but not the rela/onship itself
Differentiator #14
Coaching ² Coaches leave
organiza/on when done
Mentoring ² Mentors/mentorees remain in
the organiza/on & can provide ongoing mentoring to others
Differentiator #15
Coaching ² Done by inside or outside
content expert
Mentoring ² Mentors are normally within
the company
Differentiator #16
Coaching ² Can be done for remedial
purposes
Mentoring ² Never remedial
Differentiator #17
Coaching ² Internal poli/cs not
usually affected
Mentoring ² Internal poli/cs a considera/on
in program design
Differentiator #18
Coaching ² Corporate cultural change
may/may not occur
Mentoring ² 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 ² Diversity may or may not
be included
Mentoring ² Diversity is a component of
mentoring
Differentiator #20
Coaching ² Coaching done 1-‐on-‐1
Mentoring ² Mentoring most oPen is done
1-‐on-‐1 but other models may be used as well
Differentiator #21
Coaching ² Content exper/se more
important in coaching
Mentoring ² Interpersonal skills more
important in mentoring
Differentiator #22
Coaching ² Manager can be coach of
own employee
Mentoring ² Mentor is outside mentoree’s
direct supervisory line
Differentiator #23
Coaching ² Coaching is one-‐direc/onal
Mentoring ² Mentoring is bi-‐direc/onal
Differentiator #24
Coaching ² Coaching is focused on the
business person
Mentoring ² 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?
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We’ve 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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