Mentoring, coaching and therapy are three concepts that are often confused.
Although they all aim to support people in achieving their goals and challenges, there are important differences between them.
In the past ten years, technological progress has revolutionized our lives extremely quickly. The volume, speed and the complexity of what we call "the fourth industrial revolution" today are impressive. We experience a tsunami of change that will fundamentally change our life, our way of working and our cooperation. Such situations face new challenges and can confuse our mental balance.
People need opportunities to develop personally and professionally. Find new strengths, work on the weaknesses or simply an accompaniment to find peace in the storm. There are a variety of instruments for this, but which is the right one and what do they differ?
Although the terms "coaching" and "mentoring" are often used synonymously, there are significant differences between the two.
These differences between coaching and mentoring and therapy are essential to know the correct form in order to achieve the goal. There are certainly points of contact between the approaches, but there are also very clear differences and advantages for each of these procedures. The method must be useful and suitable for different situations, goals and needs.
Coaching is an advisory method that helps people to recognize and develop their potential and strengths.
A coach works with clients on practical destinations such as career development, leadership and time management. Coaching focuses on the present and future and is a supporting method to improve skills and behaviors.
The International Coaching Federation (ICF) defines coaching as a "partnership with customers in a thought -increasing and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential" (source).
Coaching is also based on specific tasks. To specifically strengthen or help a certain ability to achieve certain goals. For example, if a person realizes that she likes to avoid conflicts, feels uncomfortable and insecure, she can analyze directly in coaching, which is why she avoids this. At the same time, she learns how to proactively and effectively address and approach conflicts. The coached person thus acquires skills and behaviors through the process of reflection and experimentation (source).
Mentoring is relationship -oriented.
Mentoring On the other hand, there is a relationship in which an experienced person offers advice and support from another person while pursuing her career or life. Mentors bring their own experience and wisdom and help their mentees to overcome challenges and achieve their goals.
Mentoring focuses on a holistic development of the person. Often the mentor and the mentee are in close contact and frequently exchange ideas. A mentor helps with difficulties, with challenging decisions and gives valuable tips and instructions with his many years of experience in this area. The accompaniment often lasts for years and shapes the mentee's career in a positive way.
Therapy, also called psychotherapy or advice, is a process in which you meet with a therapist to analyze and solve problematic behavior, feelings and problems.
therapy On the other hand, medical or psychological treatment that supports people is to deal with emotional, cognitive or psychological problems. A therapist works with clients on profound problems that can affect their lives such as depression, anxiety and relationship problems.
The beginning of therapy can be a big step for the person concerned and at the same time the first step towards a happier and better life. A therapist supports, listens carefully, gives appropriate and helpful feedback and accompanies the patient's following steps.
All three approaches are helpful in their own way and have a lot to offer on the way to a more successful and happier life.
Of course there are many overlaps between coaching and mentoring and therapy and some modern approaches are now also a hybrid from all three.
Resilience is an important factor in all three methods. It refers to a person's ability to cope with stressful situations and learn from it without being affected by their mental health. Coaching and mentoring can help strengthen resilience by encouraging people to use their strengths and resources to master challenges. Therapy can contribute by supporting people to understand and regulate their emotions and thoughts.
If you are already in a therapy process, mentoring/coaching will complement the process. In this way, they accelerate their development into better well -being. Sometimes a mentor/coach can give the crucial impulses. His work has a very important intuitive and life experience -based component.
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Category: Mentoring VS Coaching/ Coaching VS Mentoring/ Difference between coaching and therapy/ differences between coaching and mentoring/ coaching and mentoring/ benefits of coaching and mentoring in the workplace/ coaching and mentoring theory and practice/ coaching mentoring training
