Definition Of Coaching And Mentoring

Mentoring involves a manager passing on his/her knowledge and expertise to an employee. Typically, the employee has a mentor who is at management level but not directly involved in his or her work area, so that issue s can be discussed in an impartial and confidential manner.

This report will determine the value of coaching and mentoring; highlight some factors to consider when developing coaching and mentoring and show models and methods

Bluckert, P. (2005). Critical factors in executive coaching- the coaching relationship. Industrial and Commercial Training, 37(7), 336-340. doi:10.1108/00197850510626785

Coaching and mentoring are not about learning to do something the right way, but are about helping to lead an individual to find their own way of doing it practically and efficiently. Coaching and mentoring sessions are guided with theoretical models, which help focus both the coach and the coachee in attaining desired outcomes for problem situations. However, even with the aid of theoretical models not everyone can coach another person. The first and far most important attribute of a coach is the ability to build relationships with the coachee

Unit 522 - Facilitate coaching and mentoring of practitioners in health and social care or children and young people's settings

Watt, L. (2004). Mentoring and coaching in the workplace: an insight into two leading leadership

Coaching and mentoring use the same skills and approach but coaching is short term task-based and mentoring is a longer-term relationship.

but at the same time a coachee will need a push to reach and achieve

A Learning Mentor is a relatively new concept in the field of education and is used within schools to support them in raising standards.

One definition of coaching is “Coaching is unlocking a person’s potential to maximize their own performance.” (Coaching for performance, Sir John Whitmore 1992). Or to expand on this; Simply defined, coaching is one person guiding another through a process, leading to performance enhancement. The applications can vary, support to achieve a specific project, helping an individual to do better what they already do well, or developing a skill they don't yet possess.

There are a number of definitions to what coaching is; I feel that I can personally relate to the following definition:

Coaching is the art of facilitating another person’s learning, development and performance. Through coaching people are able to find their own solutions, develop their own skills and change their own behaviors and attitudes.

Mentoring is influencing somebody by virtue of one’s manners and expertise. Mentoring involves the influence of a person in terms of his character and knowledge on the life of another person. Mentoring is permanent. Each and every member of the team can have a separate mentor. Coaching is teaching somebody by virtue of one’s experience. A’ becomes the coach of another person ‘B’ when he teaches the nuances of an art or science to ‘B’. Coaching is not permanent. Coaching is normally given to teams as well such as sporting teams. If I were to set up a coaching program, I would advise the CEO to make sure that all mentors are at least two levels above the employee; have a broader experience in the company and the ability to place them into assignments

Mentoring for the mentor is about challenging himself to perform to greater capabilities while nurturing a mentee and stretching them to realise their full potential. Mentors counsel, tutor and guide their mentees in developing themselves.

According to Coaching & Mentoring International (CMI), coaching is establishing with the client what their reality is today and then clearly defining what are the client's aims or intentions for the future. A plan of action will be worked on by the coach and the client can follow it with confidence. While Downey 1999 defined coaching as the art of facilitating the performance, learning and development of another. Bringing out the best in an individual to be effective in a team is one goal of coaching.