Why Coaches Aren’t Mentors, but Definitely Need One.
Coaching or mentoring?
You’ve probably heard of both coaching and mentoring. And, while many people make the mistake of assuming they’re basically the same thing, nothing could be further from the truth.
Understanding the difference between the two is crucial, especially for anyone on a path to making a greater impact. In fact, in my first year as a coach, mentorship kept me from quitting… and also played a key role in how I built a thriving, 7-figure coaching business (click here to jump to the whole story!)
So, if you’re considering a new career path, grasping the essence of coaching vs mentoring can be a game-changer in both your career and personal development.
Mentoring vs Coaching: Unraveling the Difference
So what’s the difference between coaching and mentoring? At the heart of the “mentoring vs coaching debate” is the focus and structure of each approach.
Coaching is a partnership focusing on achieving a specific vision. Coaches work with individuals to unlock their potential, addressing specific challenges, work toward goals and milestones, and tap into their inner authority to create a life they love. This relationship is dynamic and vision-driven, with the effective coach acting as a facilitator rather than an advisor.
Mentoring, on the other hand, is often an ongoing relationship, without a specific end in mind, fostering personal and professional growth over time. Mentors share their knowledge and experience to support a mentee’s overall development. Mentorship often focuses on advice given from the perspective of the mentor’s specific expertise or success.
A mentor vs coach scenario is like comparing a wise guide with a focused trainer.
Coaches walk beside their clients to help them recognize the power within them and bring their vision to life.
Mentors guide mentees with advice and insight to recreate the path to success they have already created.
Why Mentorship Matters for Aspiring Life Coaches
If you’re a coach or thinking of becoming one, you might be wondering what mentoring has to do with your career. Even though mentorship is a different discipline with different objectives and methods than coaching, it’s still an important part of your journey to becoming a successful difference-maker!
Fear is a common trap for aspiring life coaches, and just one example of how mentorship can make all the difference.
Both aspiring and growing coaches often fall victim to things like:
- Fear of not being good enough
- Fear of failing
- Fear of judgment
- Fear of putting themselves out there
- Fear that their life isn’t perfect enough
These fears can keep aspiring coaches from fulfilling their potential and purpose.
However, embracing mentorship can be a powerful step towards overcoming these fears and achieving what you desire. Mentorship comes with the benefit of knowing you aren’t alone in those fears and that success is possible regardless. Not to mention, how to actually achieve success in the face of fear.
Mentorship provides a unique opportunity for learning and development. In fact, I believe it’s critical in the early stages of a coaching career!
How Mentoring Kept Me From Giving Up (and helped me build a 7-figure business)
Before I made the leap to become a life coach, I was a 4th grade teacher and a reading specialist. I loved helping kids every day, but I definitely didn’t make enough money to make ends meet. I was overworked and exhausted, and most teachers in the U.S. can probably relate!
When I found life coaching, it was like a lightbulb went off. I knew this was the path for me to fulfill my purpose, help more people and make an abundant living at the same time. I finished my life coach certification with the Brave Thinking Institute and my brand new coaching business made enough money for me to quit my teaching job in the very first year.
It was amazing! But… that first summer after I quit, I still panicked.
That summer, instead of getting ready for the new school year, as I had done for years prior, I was working to grow my coaching business even more. I knew I was on the right path, but part of me was terrified! The thought of never getting another steady, reliable paycheck made me wonder if I had made a mistake.
Every week that summer, I genuinely thought about quitting coaching and begging for my old job back!
But I didn’t (thank goodness!) … there was one thing that kept me going despite my fear.
My mentor.
Each week, on the verge of quitting, I met with my mentor. This person was already a successful coach. They understood the fear I was experiencing because they had once experienced it themselves. The only difference was, they had also overcome it to create their own successful coaching business!
My mentor helped me not only navigate my fear and worry, but also helped me keep moving toward my vision. They kept me focused, held me accountable, helped me challenge my fear, and gave me valuable insights and resources to avoid the mistakes most new coaches make.
And, that fall, after 14 months as a coach, I broke my first 6-figures, nearly tripling my old teaching salary!
Looking back, I am so grateful for that mentor and all the ways they helped me create success. I know that without them, I might have given up before I ever reached that major milestone of success, and the many that would come after it.
Their insight and support helped me become a real-life coaching success story faster than I ever could have on my own. Having a mentor was like having a map to success already laid out for me, so I didn’t have to waste time and money guessing how to get there on my own.
Finding a mentor for your coaching career journey is a total game-changer!
Here are just a few ways mentorship helps both aspiring coaches and coaches who want even more success.
How Mentorship Helps Aspiring & Growing Coaches
- Learning from Experience: Mentors share insights gained from years of experience. A good mentor offers a shortcut through the learning curve and fears that many new coaches face. This can fasttrack success and help you make an even bigger impact in the world.
- Building Confidence: A mentor provides reassurance, feedback, and encouragement. Their support can help new coaches increase their confidence and take bold steps forward. Knowing you have the support of someone who has navigated similar paths and faced similar challenges is empowering!
- Expanding Networks: Relationship building is vital in the coaching industry. Mentors can introduce you to other professionals, opening new doors you might not have been aware of otherwise. This can help new and growing coaches get additional support, find new opportunities, and even get new clients!
- Strong Foundations: Mentoring relationships help set a strong foundation for your coaching practice. They can help you identify your unique value proposition, how to make the biggest impact, and understand the nuances of building a successful coaching business along the way.
- Learning The Path to Success: A mentor gives you the unique opportunity to learn from the path to success they’ve already walked. As your coaching business grows and changes, having someone to offer insight, practical advice, and guidance is priceless.
On your coaching career journey, think of mentorship like getting directions to a desired destination (in this case, the career of your dreams with wild levels of success!). Would you rather get directions from someone who has been there before, or someone who hasn’t?
If the answer is as obvious to you as it is to me, it’s a good sign that mentorship is something you should explore!
A Match Made In Heaven: Coaching and Mentoring in Career Development
Integrating both coaching and mentoring into your personal development can accelerate your journey to becoming a wildly successful coach.
While coaching relationships can help you achieve specific milestones, mentoring relationships prepare you for the long haul. Taking advantage of both can ensure you’re not just achieving goals, but also growing as an individual and professional.
Mentoring can enhance your skills in specific areas, while a coaching program can keep you on track towards fulfilling your overall vision. This dual approach ensures that you’re not only equipped with the specific skills needed to excel in the short term, but are also developing the depth of knowledge and character required for long-term success.
Embracing the Journey: From High Potential to High Impact
Embarking on a career as a life coach is a journey filled with potential.
To reach your full potential as a coach and a difference-maker, it’s essential to understand and embrace both learning how to be a great coach, and also getting the guidance and insight you need to create real success.
As you navigate your path to becoming a life coach, seeking mentorship can be a powerful strategy for success. It provides a foundation for growth, learning, and achievement, enabling you to overcome fears and uncertainties. It can be the missing link that empowers you to build a legacy of impact, freedom, and fulfillment.
If you’re ready to build a fulfilling career that not only meets your needs for freedom and impact, but also empowers others to reach their full potential, you can start your mentorship journey right now, for free!
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