People often ask about the difference between coaching and mentoring. The definitions I use are:
- a COACH works with their clients by helping them identify and achieve their own goals (internal answers)
- a MENTOR shares their own experience so the other person can benefit from knowing how the mentor’s career unfolded (external answers)
In reality, these meanings aren’t fixed. The terms gets used in different ways, and some people blend them into their own unique style.
If you’re looking for support, the key difference is whether you want someone to review your work to date and steer to you towards possible next steps (external answers), or you want to work on your personal connection with your practice and by deepening your understanding of your process, identify your own next steps (internal answers).
Both approaches are useful. There are times when it’s really valuable to sit down with someone who can view your work in a wider context and suggest directions, opportunities and resources that might be relevant for you. And there are other times when it’s important to reflect on what your work means to you as a person and how your practice reflects your overall values and intentions.
I believe that when you really understand the core of your work, and what makes it uniquely yours, the next steps become much more obvious. When we stop thinking about what we should do and start doing work that really resonates with who we are, all the external stuff falls into place much more easily.
