Coaching and Mentoring
Coaching and mentoring are two processes that allow entrepreneurs, business people, and leaders to achieve their and their subordinates’ full potential. Though used interchangeably, coaching and mentoring are two different things. Coaching is a process that focuses on the methods that allow learning and development to occur, and thus enabling improvement in work and performance. Mentoring, on the other hand, focuses on the experiences, knowledge and wisdom of an older colleague who then passes it on to younger subordinates to facilitate both learning and improvement. Both processes can be used separately to effect favorable change in the workforce but they can also be combined (Coaching Mentoring) depending on the needs of the facilitator.
Business Coaching
The importance of organizational development to businesses cannot be overrated. Back then, coaching and mentoring programs were only reserved for the company’s directors, managers, and senior members (Executive Coaching). Today, however, the two programs’ use have expanded and are now being used as professional and personal development tools that help improve motivation, morale, productivity and turnover among employees.
Such programs prove to be popular among a company’s staff and personnel primarily because of the balance it achieves in fulfilling the company’s goals and fulfilling the development needs (both in career and in personal life) of employees. It’s a two-way, give-and-take relationship – the employee gains significant benefits and at the same time, the organization realizes its goals and objective for development and improvement.
Life Coaching
These days, individuals are seen to be taking greater responsibilities to advance themselves professionally and personally. Many employees no longer rely on their bosses to provide for their needs in career development. There has been a significant increase in the number of employees privately seeking the expertise of coaches and mentors to help them achieve their professional goals while maintaining a good balance to their personal lives.
Other people may opt to concentrate on improving their personal lives. This is where life coaching comes in. This type of program is slowly growing and is slowly getting recognition all over the world. Coaches and mentors offer a motivating and supportive environment that will enable their clients to explore what they want from life, identify their goals and aspirations, devise ways on how to achieve these goals and aspirations, and to fulfill their needs.
Personal or life coaching is very different from business coaching. The context and the focus of both programs are different. In business coaching, the program is conducted with the focus on the organization’s need for improved performance, productivity and employer-employee relations. Life coaching, on the other hand, focuses on improvement and development from the perspective of the individual.
