Mentoring or Coaching?
I am often asked what is the difference between mentoring and coaching. Strictly, coaching is empowering someone to enhance their particular skillset and is for a set period whereas mentoring shows students how to address and solve their own problems and is a lifetime skill once acquired.
Personally, I tend to use the two expressions quite loosely, as in my experience most people respond better to an approach where I am often both a mentor and coach. It just depends on the particular situation and the issues around it. Being flexible, open-minded and thinking outside the box is very helpful when we come to solving problems.
One of the many models I can use is the GROW model. This is made up of:
- Goals.
- Current Reality.
- Options.
- Will or Way Forward.
Coaching Modules & Models
Module 1 - Mindset
Overcoming limiting belief and achieving your goals. (duration 3 sessions)
Module 2 - Spirituality
Understanding and embracing your inner-person, your values through self-awareness, managing and overcoming your challenges with confidence, courage and by developing your guiding principles. (duration 3 sessions)
Module 3 - Peace of Mind
Feeling relaxed, enjoying the flow of life, letting go of things that doesn’t serve your true purpose. (duration 3 sessions)
CLEAR, STEPPA, OSCAR and GROW.
CLEAR
Contract
Establish the desired outcomes, the session’s scope, and agree on the coaching process.
Listen
The coach is encouraged to listen and only engage to ‘nudge’ and steer the conversation toward the topics under review.
Explore
Examine in more detail how the individual is affected by the situation.
Action
Get the individual to commit to changes and internalize their new outlook.
Review
Perform follow-ups with the individual to assess how things are progressing and identify what worked well in the coaching sessions.
STEPPA
Subject
Understand the context and the subject under discussion.
Target
Identification Arrive at a clear goal or outcome (define using SMART).
Emotion
Understand if the emotions associated are going to boost or block progress toward the goal.
Perception
Explore the bigger picture. How does this goal sit within the broader context of the client’s life?
Plan/Pace
Define a series of steps to reach the goal and the timescales upon
which this is based.
Action/Amend
Review the decisions made, understand what has been learned,
and whether the plan is sensible
OSCAR
Outcome
Understand the desired outcome and the individual’s long-term goals.
Situation
Help the client become aware of their skills, abilities, level of knowledge, and how they feel.
Choices
What are the options for reaching the desired outcome?
Actions
Identify the improvements and how best to make them.
Reviews
Hold regular reviews to ensure the client is on track.
GROW
Goal Setting
Where you want to be?
Reality Assessment
Where are you now?
Options What would you get there?
Will or Way
What will you do? Or which way do you want to get there?
