Difference between Coaching and Mentoring

As a coach Yvonne Looije (MaXXYou, Zürich, Switzerland) is hesitant to give advice or steer things into a certain direction. As a mentor her role differs. A mentor is seen as someone with many years of experience, often including line experience, just like Yvonne. A mentor has extensive industry expertise and the challenges they face and observations you've made are often alike. What exactly is the difference between a coach and a mentor?

Coaches

Coaches are professional listeners and helpers. Coaches differ from mentors because they are skilled in guiding learning processes and personal development. They are experts in bringing out the best in people, and for them to be truly themselves. Coaches use life experience and wisdom, techniques and strategies for behavioral change.

Coaching development

Coaching is used to develop a skill, solve problems, or guide an activity. The duration usually depends on the complexity of what is being coached. The coachee is expected to fully engage and to take meaningful actions. Ultimately it is about the coachee to hold themselves accountable. The coach guides the process, but does not necessarily have to be the expert in the specific field of work as the person - you - are being coached, and this with having a holistic perspective for the coachee to get the highest benefits in life and in career. Yvonne Looije can elaborate more about this.

Mentors

Mentorship is generally seen as a long-term relationship and a mutual learning process in a specific field. The mentor passes on information and experiences, but the main task is to guide the mentee in their growth process and to be open to learning and growing themselves. The responsibility is mutual and individual.

On-the-job mentoring

Mentoring is the most well-known form of guidance because most of us have experienced it. After all, it is a commonly used approach at work for the optimal training of new colleagues. We speak of mentoring when someone, who has a lot of experience in a specific field, provides guidance to another with less knowledge in that field. The 'senior' (in experience, not necessarily in age) helps them move forward in their professional career, and acts as a role model. The mentor will mainly give tips and advice in order to perform the job as optimally as possible. The mentor relationship usually lasts for a long time.

Coaching means partnering and an equal relationship

Coaching entails an equal relationship. As the person is being coached, the coach does not have or need to have significant knowledge about the content of the coachee's work. The coach will not take their own experience as a starting point. A coaching relationship starts with the needs of the coachee - his/her agenda is the driving force. After all, the client is the expert of his/herself. The coaching journey is all about achieving the coachee's goals.

Yvonne as a mentor and coach

Yvonne Looije is a mentor and a coach. As a senior professional within the finance services industry she has first hand experience with many functions within the field. Therefore she can mentor and/or coach both experienced professionals and young professionals, whatever their role might be in the financial services. Each coaching relationship is personalized, based on individual goals and objectives. And she sees many ways of working with her clients, bringing out the best in each client, individually. Coaching with Yvonne is easily accessible and on demand, to fit your schedule - please feel invited to book a free discovery session to experience Coaching with Yvonne.