Coaching : comparisons with mentoring

‘Coaching’ and ‘mentoring’ are closely related and often the terms are used interchangeably (e.g., Thompson, Wolf, & Sabatine, 2012). Coaches and leaders are similar in that they communicate in a genuine and authentic fashion, act with integrity, foster hope, inspire others, and assist in developing a positive shared vision for the future (Hicks & McCracken, 2011). Coaching and mentoring are therefore both potentially valuable processes in relation to providing support, building confidence, improving interpersonal skills and enhancing performance. While there are some distinctions between coaching and mentoring, both are likely to promote personal, as well as professional growth, strategise to achieve learner determined goals, and work through transitions of a learning or professional nature (Clutterbuck, 2008). The coach and mentor draw upon their own significant professional experience, they can be directive or non-directive depending on the person they work with and the situation that has to be addressed, and thus they may give advice at times or support the ‘mentee’/‘coachee’ in clarifying specific principles and actions themselves.