Mentorship versus coaching — is there really a difference?

We often use these two terms interchangeably, but the truth is that they fill entirely different needs. 

Even though I’m a coach myself, I think a mentor is an invaluable person to have in your life. 

However, you’ll typically need a coach before you can even think about getting a mentor. 

Allow me to explain!

What’s a Mentor?

The word “mentor” comes from the ancient Greek word for “spiritual guide.” 

Mentors are generally older and more experienced than their protégés and have a wealth of knowledge they can pass along. They can be someone you know personally or professionally, like your boss, a colleague, or even your grandfather. 

A mentor can also be someone you’ve never met, such as an author or speaker specializing in a certain field.

Simply, a mentor has the knowledge and expertise you want to learn from.

Why Mentorship is Important

Mentorship is an important experience because it helps you thrive. Most people underestimate how many doors a mentor can open for them. Whether through unique perspectives or relationships with other people in your field. 

A mentor can help you by:

• Providing you with candid feedback
• Giving you advice on how to improve yourself
• Making connections that can advance your career

In other words, you’ll need a mentor when you’re ready to level up in your career. But if you’re thinking about changing careers or you’re not sure what you want to learn from a mentor, then having a mentor is a waste of time. 

What’s a Coach?

When it comes to mentorship versus coaching, you always want to utilize the knowledge of a coach first.

A coach helps you by empowering you to solve problems. We ask questions to gain your perspective on how you would tackle an issue you’re facing. 

We coach you on how to reflect and use your own critical thinking skills. A mentor directly tells you what they would do and how you can do it, too.

Why Coaching is Important

Coaching is about supporting you as you take on new challenges. Coaches push you to get out of your comfort zone and encourage you to accept the unknown. A coach like myself will guide you through this process. 

Some specialized coaches can give you more refined one-on-one feedback. For example, a blog coach can teach you how to create a successful blog. Likewise, a Tik Tok coach can give you their tried and true method for creating viral videos through the app. As a career coach, I will help you land your dream job and stay competitive in any job market.

Mentorship versus Coaching: What’s The Difference?

Coaching is similar to mentorship in that it helps develop one’s skill set and provides professional guidance. But there are some key differences:

• Mentors tend to be more experienced than those they mentor.
• Coaches can be more or less experienced than those they coach (so long as they have the necessary training).
• A coach focuses on helping individuals reach their full potential.
• A mentor might help someone get started in their career or find their first job after graduation.
• Your mentorship can last for months or years.
• You may only work with a coach for a few weeks or months to solve a specific problem in a specific timeframe. 

Which One is Better?

It’s not so much a matter of which is better regarding mentorship versus coaching. It’s more about who is best to help you reach that next step in your life. 

A mentorship looks at big-picture goals. I recommend getting a mentor after you work with a coach because your mentor might not have taken the same path as you. 

For example, let’s say you want to build a million-dollar company. In this case, any mentor who has achieved this goal is a viable option— whether or not you’re in the same industry. They can show you what they did to succeed and introduce you to the “right” people. 

Coaching focuses on a more specific skill set. Your coach helps you achieve a particular goal or outcome. A trained life and career coach like me can show you how to leave the corporate world and build your own business. From there, you can get a mentor who has reached the level of success you aspire to have. 

But, I recommend hiring a specialized coach between a life coach and a mentor. Here’s my suggestion on who you should work with in order:

1. Life Coach: To make sure you’re in the career you want to be in.
2. Specialized Coach: To teach you the niche skills that can help you advance your career.
3. Mentor: To show you the “big picture” view of your chosen career path.

Are you ready to hire a coach? I know someone who can teach you how to take action toward what you really want out of life 😉