What is a Mentor?
According to the dictionary, “a person who gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person, especially in a professional or academic context”.
Source: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mentor#h1
Which is different from a Coach; 2
[from the concept that the tutor conveys the student through examinations]
a
: a private tutor
hired a coach to help her daughter prepare for the test
b
: one who instructs or trains
an acting coach
a birth coach
especially: one who instructs players in the fundamentals of a sport and directs team strategy
a football coach
a pitching coach
a gymnastics coach
Source: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coach
Theme from the two:
- Helping support people in their growth.
We all need support and encouragement from others. Someone in our corner rooting for us and telling us we can make it! Which is why I’m passionate about and love mentoring and coaching others. I get to do both by volunteering with Pay Forward Coaching (link). I also get opportunities to do both in my career.
Background
I became interested in learning more about coaching in 2022, when I led my first team of direct reports. I noticed that sometimes, the same questions would come up, and I knew my team knew how to do what they were asking me, but at first I kept “mentoring” them – telling them what to do and how to do it, like they were new, even when they were getting seasoned in their role – because they were asking. Then, I had an “aha” moment one day when I realized they just needed “coaching” – which is helping guide them to the answer they already know. So instead of answering the question at face value, I would respond with more questions like, “What do you think is the best approach?” or “How have you handled this before?” Honestly, I started to realize this was POWERFUL, way more powerful than mentoring. Once someone knows how to navigate certain situations, they may still need some mentoring, but it becomes more of a coaching approach to leading.
Now, I think coaching skills are extremely essential leadership skills.
So, when I saw what Pay Forward Coaching was doing, I had to get involved, and it’s been a great growth opportunity for me, and I’ve gotten to support a lot of people over the years. I’m still working towards becoming a certified coach to level up my skills.
What has your experience been with coaching and mentoring?
Have you experienced both?
Which one do you think is more impactful?
“None of us can help everyone. But all of us can help someone. And when we help them, we serve Jesus. Who would want to miss a chance to do that?”
–Max Lucado
“It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed.”
–Napoleon Hill
“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”
–Ralph Waldo Emerson
