There are many different types of professionals who specialize in helping business owners, including coaches and mentors. So what is the difference? A business coach will work with a client to identify their goals and present them with a plan of action to achieve those goals. A coach isn’t supposed to give advice, but rather help someone determine what they should do next.
A business mentor is more directive in trying to guide clients towards success; mentors have an established framework for their advice and will often take an active role in guiding the decision-making process of their mentees. So who is a better fit for business coaching, and who is a better fit for mentoring? Each has its own advantages, so it all depends on the type of client you are trying to work with.
Know What You Want, Then Find the Right One:
- When considering whom to work with, consider the type of client you are: if your goal is to improve your business significantly, then finding someone who can help you set up a plan of action to achieve that goal could be advantageous. If not or if there isn't much of a difference between their services, then it might make sense to hire both.
- Again, if your goal is to improve your business considerably, then having a mentor who has actually been through it themselves will be very beneficial. This can allow you to walk into the situation feeling confident that you have someone on your side who has been through it before and will act accordingly.
When you are looking for a business coach or mentorship, it is important that it is the right fit for your company. Discuss what a business coach and mentor do and help you determine which will be best for your company.
