Why the difference between coaching and mentoring matters for your growth.

We’ve all had those moments where we feel a bit stuck in the mud. Perhaps your team isn't flourishing the way it used to or your own professional energy feels like it’s hit a plateau.

When you decide it’s time to seek support you’ll often hear two words used almost interchangeably. Those words are coaching and mentoring.

While they might look similar from the outside they are actually two very different tools for your personal development. Choosing the right one is like picking the right tool for a specific job in the garden.

You wouldn't use a spade when you need a pair of pruning shears.

The Mentor. Following the map

Think of a mentor as someone who has walked the path you are currently on. They are the seasoned gardener who tells you they’ve grown these roses before and they show you exactly how they did it.

Mentoring is wonderful when you need a blueprint. You are looking for someone to share their map of the world with you so you can avoid the same pitfalls they encountered.

It is often a relationship built on advice and how-to guidance.

The Coach. Building your own engine

A coach works quite differently. I don’t come to the table with a map of your life. Instead I come with the tools to help you draw your own.

The International Coaching Federation defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximise their personal and professional potential.

In our sessions I’m not there to tell you how to plant your roses. I’m there to help you understand the soil you’re working with and identify what’s blocking the light so you can decide what you want your garden to look like and plant it.

I hold a safe space for you to have the courage to take massive action.

Why the distinction matters for you

If you want to know how a specific industry works then you should find a mentor. But if you want to change how you work or if you want to sharpen your decision making and find a deeper sense of purpose then you need a coach.

The beauty of coaching is that the solutions we find together are yours. They aren’t hand me down ideas. They are insights that fit your unique life and leadership style.

Is it time for a chat ?

You don't need to have all the answers before we meet. In fact most people start exactly where you might be now by knowing they want something to change but not being quite sure where the weeds are starting.

If you’re ready to move from seeking advice to finding your own internal authority let's see what we can cultivate together.

Ready to start ?