Coaching and mentoring serve two distinct purposes in promoting individual growth. According to the International Coaching Federation (ICF), the former involves a partnership between a coach and a client - with the aim of sparking creative thinking and enabling the coachee to unlock their full potential, both personally and professionally.
Mentors, on the other hand, play a more direct role - they offer support while overseeing the development of those under their charge (mentees). With feedback from mentors, these mentees are better equipped to develop in their respective fields.
Based on these definitions, it's easy to recognize that the objectives of coaching and mentoring are the same: to nurture individual development. The difference lies in the way each is delivered. Coaches take a more questioning-based approach and focus on helping coachees tackle challenges independently, while mentors offer guidance built upon their own experiences.