Coaching, Mentoring, Counselling – Is there a difference?
As an organizational psychologist with a focus on leadership development and learning in individuals and organizations, I have a keen interest in how coaching, mentoring, counselling, and other forms of developmental conversations work. I have often been asked:
- Is there a difference between coaching, mentoring, counselling, spiritual direction, disciple-making, and any other form of developmental relationship or dialogue?
- Specific to coaching, is there a difference between executive coaching, life coaching, sports coaching?
- Do I need to get certified to coach others?
Clearly language and definition is important. But it is also clear to me that people have different ideas regarding these labels. Hence, depending on who I talk to, I may use a particular developmental dialogue or relationship as an anchor for how we begin the work.
Form, Format, Purpose, Needs, Competence, Opportunity & Objective
In a way, when someone asks the above questions, the initial focus could be on the form of the relationship. Instead, my approach is to offer a format for us to explore how we should proceed. This helps us focus on the purpose of the interactions between myself and the interested parties. As we get past the chemistry stage, the initiating needs of the client becomes clarified further, and I help the client explore what is doable based on my competence and the opportunities available. This eventually gets developed into a set of objectives for the engagement.
My Competence
To date, I have provided developmental conversations for more than 1000 unique individuals and organizations. Many of them come in the form of executive coaching sessions. Some of them venture into counselling, spiritual direction, and other forms of developmental dialogue.
In my research into executive coaching, I have uncovered at least 18 models out there. I am acquainted with many of them, but again, my clients don’t really care what model I use. (To avoid copyright issues, I will not list them here).
To date, I have not been formally certified as a coach. Part of the reason is because I do not believe in the money spinning direction that the certification business has evolved into. The other reason is mainly the hassle and time needed to sit through familiar material. The third reason is that having sifted through the 18 executive coaching models out there, I have moved on to other forms of developmental dialogues and relationships such as mentoring, spiritual direction and the like.
Without a formal certificate, some organizations who do not know me feel less inclined to engage me as a business coach. I am fine with that. I view that as a good thing, because it helps me narrow down the time I have available to engage in the work I really want to do.
My Compensation
I get paid for all my work. I get paid based on what the work is worth, with an occasional discount based on what the client can afford. Sometimes, the client pays for the work. Sometimes, the organization pays for it. Not all my payment from individuals are in cash. It can come in the form of a promise to “pay it forward”, or for reciprocal services for business needs that I have.
Payment and contracts are important to help cement the relationship I will have with my client. It affirms the commitment and respect for the process we are to embark together.
Contact
Leave me a note in the contact if you are interested to be in a coaching relationship with me.
