While training and mentoring consist of transferring knowledge from a teacher to a student or from a mentor to an apprentice, coaching consists of improving, supporting and making it easier for the person to intervene and participate actively in their own growth and knowledge. The core of coaching is different from both training and mentoring. In general, training can be used to improve a specific skill in a short time. Coaching usually takes longer, while mentoring can last several years.
This will ensure that your mentor can share with you the knowledge and experience they have that are most relevant to you and your situation. I will probably see myself primarily as a coach, although, like all of us, I will also dedicate myself to teaching and mentoring depending on the person and the situation. If you are clear about your goals and needs and would appreciate receiving more concrete advice, guidance and connections at this stage, then what you need is a mentor. But what's the difference between a coach, a mentor and a trainer and who is best positioned to help you achieve your specific professional goals? While coaching is a client-led process, training usually has a fixed program or agenda with well-defined learning objectives.
Nathan Wood is a former professional and international youth athlete, mentor to professional sports coaches and certified level 4 master coach. Let's define coaching, mentoring and training and explore the similarities and differences between them, so that you can take advantage of the right aspect of people's development at the right time. Coaching is about having that space to be more clear about your goals and dreams and generating your own possibilities to move forward. Coaching, on the other hand, is more about looking to the future and being creative to live the life you want to live.
A coach uses a much more question-based mode of operation, unlike the narrative style adopted by coaches. Invista Performance Solutions believes that coaching is the most personalized practice in talent development, since it involves a close relationship between the coach and the people being trained. While a coach usually sets goals for the student, a mentor guides the student to set their own goals. Your coach isn't there to give you advice, guidance, or solutions; you're the one who knows you best, and an effective coach will simply bring your internal strengths and resources to the forefront, allowing you to access your own solutions.
You can find life coaches in general, as well as others who work in the fitness and nutrition industries, for example. Both the coach and the mentor can act as a confidential sounding board, a neutral third party that is fully committed to helping you achieve your goals.
