The purpose of a business coach is to provide clarity and focus on the goals of a company. On the other hand, mentors can develop a more personal relationship with the mentee and take a holistic view of the learner. Small Business Trends is an award-winning online publication that has highlighted the differences between mentoring and coaching. Mentoring is a long-term process while business coaching is for a short period of time.
A mentor guides their mentee in the right direction by immersing themselves in their skills and experiences. The challenge is finding the right match between a coach and a coachee. A business coach does not provide solutions, but rather shows the range of possible paths and routes without specifying any. An effective coach has a proven and repeatable system to teach, motivate, inspire and help unlock the potential of their clients.
A business consultant provides advice that usually focuses on helping you create systems and processes that allow your organization to operate smoothly and effectively. While there are many similarities between the two, both can offer guidance and support in the early stages of building your business or building relationships within large organizations as you advance in your professional career.
