Coaching
Coaching is a process that aims to improve performance and focuses on the ‘here and now’ rather than on the distant past or future.
There is a huge difference between teaching someone and helping them to learn. In coaching, fundamentally, the coach is helping the individual to improve their own performance: in other words, helping them to learn.
Coaches believe that the individual always has the answer to their own problems but understands that the individual needs help and guidance to find the answer
“Coaching is unlocking a person’s potential to maximise their own performance. It is helping them to learn rather than teaching them.”
John Whitmore, in Coaching for Performance.
The Difference between Teaching, Coaching, Mentoring and Counselling
Although teaching, coaching, mentoring and counselling all share some key characteristics and skills, they are nonetheless quite different and it’s important to be aware of the differences.
Mentoring
Mentoring is similar to coaching. There is general agreement that a mentor is a guide who helps someone to learn or develop faster than they might do alone.
Mentors are often formally designated by mutual agreement, and outside of an individual’s line management chain. They usually have considerable experience and expertise in the individual’s line of business.
A mentoring relationship usually focuses on the future, career development, and broadening an individual’s horizons.
Coaching
Coaching involves the belief that the individual has the answers to their own problems within them.
The coach is not a subject expert but rather is focused on helping the individual to unlock their own potential. The focus is very much on the individual and their desire to improve specific skills or achieve personal goals.
Coaching focus on the here and now and solving immediate problems or issues to ensure future growth.
The key skill of coaching is asking the right questions to help the individual work through their own issues.
Teaching and Training
Teaching and training involve an expert teacher who imparts knowledge to their students.
Although the best teachers will use participative and interactive techniques, like coaching, there is very definitely an imbalance of knowledge, with the teacher as expert knowing the ‘right answer’.
Counselling / Therapy
Counselling is closer to a therapeutic intervention.
It focuses on the past, helping the individual to overcome barriers and issues from their past and move on. Here, the focus may be either internal or external but usually has a mental or health aspect to it.
Consulting
Consulting refers to the practice of providing expert advice to individuals, organizations, or governments on various topics, such as management, technology, or finance.
Consultants analyze problems, identify solutions, and offer recommendations based on their expertise and experience. Their goal is to help clients achieve their objectives, solve a particular problem or improve overall performance in a specific area by focusing on delivering solutions to the specific challenges.