Coaching is different from training and consulting
May 1st, 2012
Many hire coaches for leadership skills, personal growth, and better decision making. Yet there seems to be misunderstandings regarding coaching. Generally, it isn’t fully understood what it is and what it offers. Some claim to offer coaching are really offering training or consulting. In this post, we will parse out how coaching is the different from training, mentoring, consulting, and therapy.
- Training is sharing knowledge. You attend software training to learn how to use it. You attend accounting training to learn principles and procedures. Coaching evokes the knowledge you already have and helps you apply it to your goal.
- Mentoring is sharing of experiences. Typically mentoring comes from a more senior person who can share their previous mistakes and successes. If a coach has experience in a similar area, they can share that experience, but it is usually framed in the context of their experience; not yours. Coaching helps you call on your previous experiences to guide you on creating solutions. Read More