Coaching, mentoring, counseling and consulting are the same: truth or myth?
MYTH 1: Coaching is the same as mentoring.
Not. Mentors are those individuals who are considered SME’s (subject matter experts) in the areas in which they are supporting others. Mentors have been there and done that and can share how they achieved their success and give wise counsel (advise) to the “mentee”. Mentors provide advice, shares knowledge, and experiences, and teaches. Mentoring is defined as “a relationship between an experienced person and a less experienced person for the purpose of helping the one with less experience”. Mentors use their knowledge and experience to open doors to otherwise out-of-reach opportunities.
MYTH No. 2: Coaching is the same as counseling.
Not. Coaching is nothing like counseling except they are both considered “helping professions”. A counselor helps a person discover how his or her past affects the present and counselors. Counseling is addressing an area that is broken, not working, and where there is pain and confusion. There could be deeply rooted problems that need the help of a professional and skilled counselor. Contrary to the counselor, a coach works with peoples’ present in order to accelerate productivity and effectiveness in the future.
MYTH 3. Coaching is consulting.
Not. A consultant is an expert in a particular field who works as an advisor either to a company or to another individual. Consulting services provide solutions with a roadmap for exactly what roads to take and what roads to avoid. Consulting focuses on problem solving, strategies, action plans, and accomplishing very specific goals. The consultant is the expert and brings the knowledge and expertise to the situation that makes the difference in the client’s failure or success. The consultant tells and advises.
So, how does coaching differ from mentoring, counseling and consulting?
Coaches do not give advice and the coach’s skill is in questioning, listening and challenging in a completely non-judgmental way. The coach does not have the answers; the coach has questions. The goal is to help the “PBC” (Person Being Coached) to discover and identify possible solutions that will work for them. There are times when a coach may advise the PBC but it is rare.
In coaching, the client does the work and owns the outcomes. How freeing is that to know? How are you working with your clients? Are you feeling pressure and taking ownership of the outcome? Is it time you trusted the coaching process?
