Coaching Versus Mentoring
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Critical Comparison of Coaching v Mentoring
The scope of this assignment is to critically compare and contrast the two approaches, reflecting on the relevance and value of each, to apply this to my organisation where possible and to offer recommendations where appropriate.
Introduction
Coaching
Coaching can take many forms, life coaching, business coaching, performance coaching etc. As with mentoring and counselling it is about helping the individual to gain self awareness, but it is goal focused and action is required so that the individual can move forward. The goal setting process has two components: skill development and psychological development. The outcome sought is that the “coachee” will achieve the goals set, and will thereafter feel able and confident to set personal goals for themselves (Passmore 2003, p31).4ed
The CIPD defines Coaching as; developing a persons skills and knowledge so that their job performance improves, hopefully leading to the achievement of organisational objectives. It targets high performance and improvement at work, although it may also have an impact on an individuals private life. It usually lasts for a short period and focuses on specific skills and goals.
Mentoring
The word “mentor” comes from the The Odyssey, written by the Greek poet Homer. As Odysseus (Ulysses” in the Latin translation) is preparing to go to fight the Trojan war, he realises he is leaving behind his one and only heir, Telemachus. Since Telemachus is only of primary school age, and since wars tended to drag on for many years, Odysseus recognises that Telemachus needs to be coached on how to be king whilst he is off fighting. He engages a family friend named Mntor to be his sons tutor. Mentor is both wise and sensitive-two important ingredients of world class mentoring (Chip. R. Bell, 1998).
Mentoring is a process whereby one person acts as a counsellor and friend to another, usually to support them as they enter an organisation and have to familiarise themselves with its culture and processes, or as they take on new responsibilities in an unfamiliar part or level of an organisationThe agenda is the mentees and mentoring may have both an organisational and an individual focus (Garvey, 2004, p8).
Where Does This Fit Within My Organisation?
I have always felt that we were more of a coaching organisation, that we supplied coaching throughout all levels with a common goal and understanding. The more research that I carry out, the more I come to understand that my organisation leans more towards a mentoring approach.
For example; when a new member of staff is engaged, we will assign somebody (usually their immediate superior) to show them around the Company until they find their feet and then we expect the “mentor” to be there to advise and guide the employee throughout his time with the Company.
Even when I have started down the path of coaching performance enhancement within the team, I can see that this coaching very quickly turns into a mentoring situation.
Critical Reflection on Relevance and Values of Selected Approaches
Coaching
Coaching should be job specific, individualised instruction. It involves enhancing the performance of an individual who is already competent rather than trying to create competence in the first place.
The first step in the coaching relationship is for the coach to share his/her vision of what future success looks like. Before the coach can build commitment and enthusiasm around the vision, however, four fundamental building blocks must be in place:
The coach has to have a fully formed future picture of successful performance.
The picture must be specific enough for the coach to be able to compare real-time behaviour with his/her vision and from the comparison orchestrate insightful and appropriate interventions.
The coach must through his/her overt behaviour present an emotional commitment to the enunciated vision.
The coach must present the vision using language, example and metaphor drawn from, and congruent with, the employees background, knowledge, and experience.
Any durable coaching process must contain three elements: managing expectations (the game plan), monitoring performance (watching the play), and giving feedback (time out). Expectations must be agreed upon both in output terms and in terms of the behaviours demanded. The criteria for success must be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time bounded. (S.M.A.R.T.).
It is important that early on in the coaching relationship ownership of the problem or opportunity passes to the employee. For this reason language such as, “here is what I would like you to do,” should be replaced by, “how would you like to address this?” Assumptions of deeply committed self-management from an employee with low self-esteem, however, are akin to building a house on quicksand.
(John Burdett, 1998, VOl 17. 2/3).
The Coach does not need to have experience specific to the “coachees ” employment, the coach does not have to be the senior of the “coachee” within the organisation.
The primary goal of any training program is to prepare trainees to perform effectively on a specific post-training task. The trainer usually determines the training agenda, and trainees must adapt themselves to the process and structure of the training. In coaching the client sets the agenda and determines the goals to be achieved (Druckman.D and Bjork.R, 1991). That having been said, many trainers have excellent coaching skills, and coaches can be trainers.
According to Schmidt and Bjork, 1992, there are many instances where successful completion of a training program does not result in enhanced performance. Hesketh, 1997, suggests that this is due to a lack of teaching Meta cognitive skills to trainees. Meta cognitive skills, the ability to think about ones thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, are essential in mastering new skill sets. Hesketh, 1997, defined Meta cognition as knowledge and control of self and knowledge and control of process. Both are important in self-regulation of commitment, attitude, attention, and executive control of behaviour.
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