Question

Coaching vs mentoring. What is the difference between them. Provide examples.

A detailed research paper on this topic with citation and bibliography.

Answer 1

Coaching and mentoring have often found themselves being used interchangeably but both are different from each other even if both have a common purpose of imparting learning or knowledge skills or other characteristics. They are different because they do not describe the uniform working relationship between the sender or receiver or trainer and trainee. to be able to get the full benefit of a learning and development program and which type of training to use, it becomes impertinent and imperative on organizations to differentiate these and give them their separate identity, so that no one falls prey to the crisis of terminology. Undermentioned are the differences between the two:

• Meaning

While mentoring is always an informal relationship that is pampered and mollycoddled by a mentor to achieve a two-way, mutually beneficial relationship for an indefinite period of time. Coaching is more of a formal relationship that is defined by rules and regulations and where the focus remains to improve the behavior and work performance which are immediate to the job.

• Focus

Coaching because of its nature of being formal is always performance driven and is focusing on the immediate outcome, so as to understand if the transfer of the learning took place on the job. But Mentoring is more of where the initiative is that of development driven, as it doesn't only focus on the current job but takes an all-encompassing and holistic approach to career development at large.

• Subject-matter/Expertise

In coaching, the subject matter expert is hired who has an expertise in the given area and in which the coaches desire improvement. Mentor is usually a senior or veteran and the mentee learns from the experience of the mentor is inspired by him.

• Agenda

Again because of its formalized structure, the learning environment, medium, instruction is created by Coach and also by the coachee so as to meet his requirements. The mentoring agenda is always driven by mentee and mentor supports mentee in the initiative taken by mentee by providing timely guidance.

Examples of mentoring programs.

• Boeing offers an all-encompassing mentoring program that provides guidance on career and leadership guidance in various disciplines.
• Caterpillar has a program that involves the huge effort of veterans and mentors workers wherein they improve their career path.

Example of a coaching program

• Careem runs one-on-one coaching programs for their employees from employees of other functional departments to help a finance guy learn the modalities of marketing. This program has a definite period and is evaluated. Objectives are laid out in the beginning.

References and Citations.

1. https://www.kent.edu/yourtrainingpartner/know-difference-between-coaching-and-mentoring
2. https://www.apm.org.uk/blog/coaching-vs-mentoring-why-the-difference-matters/
3. https://www.togetherplatform.com/workplace-mentoring-program
4. The Leader as a Coach, Herminia Ibarra and  Anne Scoular, Harvard Business Review, 2019

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