Is an Executive Coach the same as a Mentor?

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It is easy to get confused, because both mentoring and executive coaching involve a One-on-One helping relationship.  However, in everything else there are significant differences.

Even today a mentor is still someone who can share wisdom, give advice on how to handle a certain situation and in general -as a role model- sets new standards.  Mentors are usually senior, more experienced people in the same or very similar businesses.  Therefore they can normally open doors, give general career advice and pass along occupational knowledge that takes otherwise years to acquire.

Mentoring relationships often evolve from previous social or professional relationships. In mentoring there is no set agenda and normally there are no set expectations or a timeline for reaching any output. In fact, you can have multiple mentors, each providing advice in specific areas of their expertise. Mentoring relationships last normally for many years with frequent or as needed meetings and touches. Throughout my career I always had mentors. In my case a former professor and a former superior took personal interest in my professional advancements and gave highly appreciated advice freely.

First and foremost, business coaching focuses on work and career related goals.  It is action oriented, looking to enhance future performance based on clear goals and a development plan.  The biggest differences, when comparing mentors to coaches, are therefore the work experience and clear performance goals.  In a coaching relationship it is unusual to have a coach with exactly the same industry or professional background.  Good coaches are trained in developing a customized program to develop a curriculum to reach the goals within a clearly defined time table.  In order to define goals, the coach normally conducts interviews with peers, subordinates and -when available- with a superior to get a clear picture and assess the situation, then develops a plan on how to get to the desired goals  In coaching, you always have mutually agreed accountabilities and measurable outcomes.  And coaching is not exclusive. I see clients still working with their trusted mentors.

So, why would you involve a business coach?  After all, you can learn to fly, to drive or to swim all by yourself. Generally, coaching helps you to manage and reduce risks while introducing effective habits, behaviors and traits.  Mentoring has influenced "who" you have become to now.  Business coaching targets your professional goals and future.  Even Tiger Woods -the best golfer in the world- has a swing coach to more efficiently grove his swing and to improve it every year.  If you want to grow in your current role by enhancing your capabilities to create extraordinary outcomes or become more effective at handling interpersonal conflicts or want to prepare for a new or future role with expanded responsibilities or new assignments, executive coaching has proven to be a very effective tool. It pushes you to think and behave in new ways that increases your self-confidence and expands your horizon.

Especially in this tough economic situation with the fierce competition for jobs and business acquiring new habits and -even more importantly- unlearning ineffective habits determines ones success. So don't put yourself in a situation the famous football coach Vince Lombardi once described after loosing a game:  "We didn't lose the game; we just ran out of time."

© 2008 Copyrighted by Dr. Joe Mayer, Managing Partner of The Growth Coach,  who helps owners grow their businesses by focusing on vision and strategy; we make a difference in your business and your professional life.. Joe can be reached at J.Mayer@Thegrowthcoach.com; http://www.mayerbusinessgroup.com/