Coach or Mentor? Here's How to Determine Which is Best for You

Coaching and mentoring have come a long way since the days when companies used these outside resources to help fix toxic behavior at the top of the organization. Today, coaches and mentors are widely used across all levels of the organization to help people accelerate their development and improve their performance as leaders. They do this in much the same way that athletic coaches work with players: by helping you make the most of your natural abilities and find ways to work around your weaknesses.

Imagine for a moment learning to play a game like golf, which requires knowledge of the rules, concentration, and practice in order to achieve success. Now think about what it would be like to learn how to play this game without access to an instructor or a coach. Most of us would throw our clubs up in the air in a fit of frustration. In fact, that’s exactly what many of us did back in the nineties, when we didn’t have access to people who could help us improve our game at work—we left corporate America to start dot.com companies.

The Big Debate—Mentor or Coach

Ask ten people to explain the difference between a coach and a mentor, and you will most likely get ten different answers. However, most would agree that there is a difference. Before you start looking around for a coach or a mentor, you must determine what specifically you are looking to gain from this type of relationship. Once you’ve answered this question, you’ll know which direction to move toward. Here are some general guidelines to help you decide:

A mentor:

• Is usually much higher up in an organization than you
• May be in a role that you aspire to be in someday
• May work in the same organization or in another organization
• Is most often selected by the person who is looking for mentoring
• Is selected based on the guidance he or she can give to you at a certain stage of your career or development
• Their influence is determined by the value you place in them
• Waits for you to ask for guidance
• Is usually not compensated
• May become a lifelong advocate or friend

A coach:

• Sets a strategy for your development as a leader
• Works with you to develop milestones and will hold you accountable as you work toward achieving these mutually agreed-upon objectives
• Helps you see blind spots that often prevent managers from achieving success
• Pushes you to achieve your personal best
• Helps you increase your professional relationships
• Works with you as an advisor
• Drives the relationship in a proactive way
• May be provided to you by the company (Note: if a coach is paid by the company, his or her first obligation is to the company if a conflict of interest arises)
• Is compensated for their services
• Works with you until it is determined that you have achieved your established objectives

Think about what you really need as you look to move your career forward. Then take action and watch your career soar!