Mentoring is often thought of as the transfer of wisdom from a wise and trusted teacher. He or she helps to guide a person s career, normally in the upper reaches of the organization. However, this perception is starting to change as organizations are now implementing mentoring at all levels of a company structure. Mentor comes from the age of Homer, in whose Odyssey, Mentor is the trusted friend of Odysseus left in charge of the household during Odysseus's absence. Athena, disguised as Mentor, guides Odysseus's son Telemachus in his search for his father.
Training is about teaching a particular skill or knowledge.
Coaching, on the other hand, is about increasing an individual's knowledge and thought processes with a particular task or process. It creates a supportive environment that develops critical thinking skills, ideas, and behaviors about a subject. Although it is closely tied to training, it is more personal and intimate in nature. Also, the main difference between a coach and a trainer, is that coaching is done in real time. That is, it is performed on the job.