A coach has no agenda
While the terms “coaching” and “mentoring” are often used interchangeably and there are many similarities between the two activities there is one key difference. A mentor is someone who is guiding you towards a goal of their choosing. The mentor sees your potential for certain roles and with your cooperation attempts to guide or “groom” you towards their goal. The mentor therefore guides or controls the process.
A coach on the other hand has no agenda for you but rather is willing to help you achieve your own goals. In the case of the “coach/coachee” relationship it is the one being coached who is primarily driving the process. In a strict sense a coach won’t establish goals for you but rather assist you in defining your goals and then helping you with a variety of tools and techniques to help you get there. Along the way you may encounter various obstacles that the coach will guide you on how to go around, over or through those obstacles.
My starting assumption
My starting assumption, when working with clients, is they already have the resources they need to overcome their obstacles. Whether it is establishing or refining a vision for who they want to become, helping them to define a path towards their goals or helping them remove unwanted negative emotions that hold them back, I will teach a variety of tools and techniques my clients can use long after they’ve finished working with me.
As a natural part of my process, I administer my clients a variety of personality assessments to include the Strength Deployment Inventory, the Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator, and the Fundamental Interpersonal Relationship Orientation Behavior instruments. I use these instruments especially when my client’s goal relates to their professional development or trying to find the right career path.
I often wear a number of different hats
Along the way I might employ a number of different “therapeutic” techniques depending on what is needed at the time. So, I often wear a number of different hats from coach, to mentor, to therapist, to friend and I always let my clients know which hat I am wearing.
So, if you are struggling to define yourself, or struggling with achieving goals to include career enhancement, personal development, developing self-esteem, overcoming irrational fears, or getting relief from addictions or cravings and realize you aren’t going to be able to do this on your own then click on the link below to find out more about how I work with people.