Coaching vs Counseling vs Mentoring

As you begin your Coaching journey, it's crucial to recognize the distinctions between Coaching, Counseling, and Mentoring. This understanding will aid in establishing the appropriate expectations for each role. Below, I've tried to clarify the differences in my very beautiful handwriting :-)

I've spent a big part of my corporate life dealing with consultants and the biggest learning is the 2X2 matrix. So, here we go.

The X-Axis has "Past" on the left and "Future" on the right. The Y-Axis has "Give" at the bottom and "Ask" at the top.

• Coaching is all about asking the right questions and finding a future path together

• Mentoring is offering advice (based on experience) to help someone grow

• Counseling is mostly about exploring emotional challenges with deeper questioning.

• Consulting is about producing a 2X2 matrix (like the one below) that analyzes a problem and provides a solution.

I know I have oversimplified these roles and there is more depth to all four - However, this should be a good foundation for you as you start your journey with any of these.

All the best!