Coach? Advisor? Which one is for me?

We are often asked how coaching is different from advising or even mentoring. They all support our development, yet are quite different, both in the benefits they can provide, as well as the responsibilities asked of the client. 

Oftentimes the path of least resistance is to seek counsel. When a person is at a crossroads, they may feel pressure to choose a course of action before they have fully contemplated the situation. It’s not uncommon for us all to want someone to “fix the situation or fix me.” It is also a sign of inner strength and humility. Rather than stagnating in a sense of hopelessness or “I don’t know”, we might proactively seek a trusted expert who can solve the problem for us.

As wonderful as it is to have a consultant solve our problems for us or for a mentor to tell us what to do, those experiences may not provide a sense of empowerment. In fact, there is often a certain dependency that forms between client and advisor or mentor. Coaching is therefore distinguished from other disciplines in its approach to capacity development. Coaching leverages the inherent developmental power of our challenges to build us from within. The answers to pressing questions are sought not so much in the wisdom of others, but in the stories we tell ourselves and others—the interpretations and assessments of our personal world. 

In this sense, coaching asks for more engagement from us than an advisor or mentor. It’s a unique relationship, where we can learn how to access creative resources inside of us, build resilience, and set our sights higher than we could have otherwise. With this trusted partner, we are able to embrace challenges as development experiences, rise to the occasion, and bring with us the confidence that comes from overcoming obstacles in the real world.