Coaching Distinctions
by Micki Lewis PCC

In the many coaching sessions and facilitation of workshops given, there is a fascinating array of the definitions of coaching, mentoring, consulting and counseling. Along with the distinctions between, there are countless people who definitely see a blurry line between coaching and mentoring. It is our role as both ICF Certified and professionally trained coaches, to educate the masses about the business case for coaching and how it can help individuals and organizations to become stronger and more productive. This article’s intention is to clear up that murky definition and help you get CLEAR on the distinctions between coaching, mentoring and a few other “help-like” roles we play as leaders.

An excellent way to introduce the distinctions and open engagement of the topic is to ask a simple question, “tell me your definition of mentoring and coaching.” This can be seen as a “high gain” question, usually creating a pause before the client will answer. This request for information is a great segue way into educating the client, and opening the door to their new understanding.

According to the ICF (International Coach Federation, www.coachfederation.org) Coaching is an ongoing relationship which focuses on clients taking action toward the realization of their visions, goals or desires. Coaching uses a process of inquiry and personal discovery to build the client's level of awareness and responsibility and provides the client with structure, support and feedback. The coaching process helps clients both define & achieve professional and personal goals faster & with more ease than would be possible otherwise.

Coaching is an interactive process that helps individuals and organizations to develop more rapidly and produce more satisfying results. Coaches work with clients in all areas including business, career, finances, health and relationships. As a result of coaching, clients set better goals, take more action, make better decisions, and more fully use their natural strengths.

Professional coaches are trained to listen and observe, to customize their approach to the individual client's needs, and to elicit solutions and strategies from the client. They believe that the client is naturally creative and resourceful and that the coach's job is to provide support to enhance the skills, resources, and creativity that the client already has. While the coach provides feedback and an objective perspective, the client is responsible for taking the steps to produce the results he or she desires.

ICF estimates that there are currently 30,000+ part-time and full-time coaches worldwide. Coaching has been covered extensively in Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report, Money, USA Today, Fast Company, New Age Journal, Industry Week, Inc., the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Management Review, Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Men's Health, Bloomberg Personal, Newsday, etc.

As a professional coach, it is important to partner with your client to help them become more productive in their personal and professional lives with the ultimate goal of enhancing their professional performance and producing a better quality of life.Coaches:
Help people set better goals and then reach those goals.
Ask their clients to do more than they would have done on their own.
Help their client to focus better so as to produce results more quickly.
Provide clients with the tools, support and structure to accomplish more.


DISTINCTIONS: What is the DIFFERENCE between…
Coaching and Consulting, Sports Coaching, Mentoring, Counseling/Therapy, Manager as Coach, Friends/Family Support? *

Consulting: Consulting involves being an “EXPERT” on a certain subject matter. Instead of telling a client what to do, Coaching asks questions to enable the client to recognize what is needed to move forward. Consultants may come into a situation and may or may NOT implement the suggestions made. Coaches stay with the client to help implement the new skills, changes and goals and to make sure they really happen.

Sports Coaching: Coaching includes several principles from sports coaching, like teamwork, going for the goal, being your best. Unlike sports coaching, most professional coaching is not competition or win/lose based. Coaches focus on strengthening their clients' skills, not on helping them beat the other team. Coaches look for win/win solutions.

Mentoring: Mentoring usually happens INSIDE an organization or association. The more knowledgeable Mentor takes a newbie under his/her wings to help with the ropes of the business/organization. They may advise, counsel and guide. Mentors who are high influencers may have the opportunity to introduce the Mentees to certain people in the organization which may/may not support their career goals – yet may play a strong part in their development and/or promotion. Mentors can also be external, as a guide in supporting the person to move toward where they wish to be in their life /work.

Therapy: Therapy involves talking about the past and getting to the “why.” Professional Therapists, Councilors have had many years training and are licensed to deal and handle these concerns. Coaches don’t go there.

Manager as Coach: Again, a certain “power” is present when a manager coaches their direct report. There may be some expectations and performance related concerns that emerge with possible hidden agendas. Expectations may be heavily weighted and possibly judged. Coaching can be done if set up in a win-win agreement between the coach and coachee.

Friends/Family Support: Friends and family are great, yet they have a certain a “influence” over the coachee. It may be a tricky situation, as they may have a hidden agenda and may NOT want the person to change. Although they care for the coachee, they may/may not sabotage the coaches efforts depending on their own beliefs of what the coachee “should” or should not do or be, and may NOT support what the coachee desires.

LEADERS Wearing MANY HATS
As Leadership Development and Performance Improvement Professionals, it is our role to truly understand which “hat” we put on and when. As a coach, I ask many questions, offer different perspectives, help you collect data, test your assumptions and limitations and brainstorm possibilities to move you to the next level, a new opportunity, make a decision or bring new ideas to light. It is a bit different than being a consultant.

As consultant, I am seen as the “expert- giving answers to the client.” As much as I may want to TELL the client what to do, coaches don’t. In coaching we are not experts in a particular industry or business, we are experts in the Coaching PROCESS. We hold the process to uncover your STRENGTHS. We believe the answers lie inside the individual; it is our role to draw them out.

A good analogy is in the silliness YET practicality of the Wizard of Oz Movie. Remember when the Good Witch says to Dororthy, “You’ve always had the power within you,” we too, share that same sentiment, the power is within you!

As a Coach, let’s help you explore who you are-your foundation, uncover what you want- your dreams, goals and aspiration and set a strategy for you to get there. Coaches help you define what it looks like, partners with you to set a strategy with goals and is that partner that walks along side of you as you go for it!

What are you waiting for…go for it!

*Adapted to and added with information from CoachU www.coachu.com

In the coaching arena, Ms. Lewis is a Professional Certified Coach sanctioned by the ICF. She is also a graduate from Coach U and a licensed facilitator of the Corporate Coach U program. Lewis has coached hundreds of clients across all levels of organizations and across North America. Although her focus is coaching, Ms. Lewis also offers OD Consulting and designing/ facilitating Leadership Development Systems for you and your organization. Receiving her Masters in Management and Organizational Behavior – OD Concentration Degree from Benedictine University in Lisle, IL, she works as a Sr. Consultant in the Central Region for LINKAGE, Inc. located in Burlington, MA.