Comparing Mentoring and Coaching Essays -- Business Management Studies

Comparing Mentoring and Coaching There are some key differences between mentoring and coaching. Mentoring- is known as the transfer of wisdom and has a protà ©gà © or mentee that takes an interest in their career path. The protà ©gà © is guided and advised by the mentor who has worn the same shoes and traveled the same path, usually someone older and wiser. The mentor guides, persuades, and encourages a person to reach their full potential in life, in a position in an organization or in a career. Mentors who may be immediate superiors are helpful in career developments of the individual, and in some cases guidance is provided by executives or managers higher up in the organization. The higher level superiors guide, advise, and encourage employees of a lesser rank in these situations. On the other hand coaching is more specific for teaching of skills to the coachee or trainee. It is a transfer of skills and a one on one development of the trainee's own knowledge and thought process. It also emphasizes the development of individual and team skills, and creates a supportive environment which encourages and motivates the coachee. Coaching is on a personal level and illustrates persistently until success is achieved. The personal qualities of the coachee are developed and facilitated. GOOD MENTOR 1) A mentor needs a level of experience to reach or achieve the individual/team’s goal and need to know what the mentee is experiencing to have a level of mutual understanding between each other. This allows a better level of measurement of the mentee as they can comprehend the ‘experience’ of the mentor which will build confidence performance levels for the mentee. For example, if a mentee needs a mentor’s help in a crisis the mentee will know that they have someone there to help and not feel uncomfortable or intimidated to ask for guidance or advice. 2) Generally, a mentor is older and wiser than the mentee, and to be a good mentor means that they have the experience and knowledge to help develop the individual/team’s skills. This represents the mentor’s status or position in the organization. If the mentor seems too young, the mentee may feel intimidated and feel unsuited to the whole mentoring situation. 3) A good mentor must be supportive to the individual/team through ‘thick and thin’ situations. A mentor that doesn’t... ...o they can listen, understand and respond to each other’s input. - To be committed to the goal both the coach and coachee must remain devoted to the goal so that success will be the result. Motivation is needed in this situation to stay committed and focused on the task at hand. The coach would stay committed to their teachings of the individual or team, and the individual or team would stay committed to learn from the coaches teachings. - Mutual respect is integral to the success of a coach as both parties need to respect each other to be successful in performance. If there’s no respect, the coach will be negative towards the coachee, and the coachee will not want to listen to the coach so both parties will be worse off. This will create a negative organizational culture and may even result in employee dissatisfaction. - Empathy when working with groups or teams is important to ensure success in coaching. People need to be able to relate to each other and work closer together to build a strong and close relationship in the organization. Knowing how the other person feels about an issue will result in a positive outcome and can resolve issues effectively.