Coaching vs. Mentoring: What's the difference?

Many times the terms coaching and mentoring are used synonymously.  While there are some similarities between the terms as they are currently applied in the field of education, there are some important differences.  

Coaching. Coaching is a product of experienced, individualized leadership development.  The process allows leaders to build capacity and to achieve short and long-term organizational goals.  Coaching sessions are typically one-on-one, are data driven, and based on a partnership approach (Ennis et al., 2003; Stern, 2004;).  Coaching implies a sustained and deliberate approach to professional development.  For school administrators, coaching focuses on developing professional goals, strengthening leadership abilities, and applying best-practice strategies.  

Mentoring. Mentoring is the process of receiving counsel from a person who serves the role of either a personal counselor or teacher.  Mentoring occurs when someone who listens, asks pertinent questions, and helps a person figure out the correct path to take (McLaughlin, 2010).  For the school administrator, mentoring is concerned with forging a relationship between a more experienced current or former administrator and a new or less-experienced administrator.  The mentor becomes a source of support and information for the administrator.  When they have an issue they are not quite sure how to handle, the administrator can reach out to their mentor for assistance.  

Now that the distinction between the two terms has been clarified, which one is more useful to the school administrator?  The answer is that it depends on the situation.  A coach is there to build professional skill and enhance best practice, and a mentor is there to lend support and advice.  Both of these are needed by administrators on a regular basis.  Given the importance of school administrators in the success of the school, they would benefit from the ongoing and job-embedded professional development of a coach and the support and relationship of a mentor.  School districts should consider providing both types of support to school administrators in order to maximize their effectiveness as leaders and increase their positive impact on student achievement.

    Ennis, S., Stern, L. R., Yahanda, N., Vitti, M., Otto, J., Hodgetts, W., et al. (2003). The executive coaching handbook. Wellesley, MA: The Executive Coaching Forum

McLaughlin, C. (2010). Mentoring: What is it? How do we do it and how do we get more of it?. Health Services Research, 45(3), 871-884. doi:10.1111/j.1475-6773.2010.01090.x

Stern, L. R. (2004). Executive Coaching: A working definition. Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice & Research, 56(3), 154-162. doi:10.1037/1065-9293.56.3.0