--- title: "Mentoring vs Coaching: What is the difference and what to select? | Engage Mentoring" description: The terms “mentoring” and “coaching” are often used interchangeably but can be very different.  At Engage Mentoring, we define mentoring as “knowledge ... image: https://content.engagementoring.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Why-Coaching-and-Mentoring-is-Important.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://content.engagementoring.com/blog/mentoring-vs-coaching-what-is-the-difference-and-what-to-select#main-content) [![](https://content.engagementoring.com/hs-fs/hubfs/engageMentoring_logo-1.png?width=600&height=182&name=engageMentoring_logo-1.png)](https://engagementoring.com) - Our Programs Show submenu for Our Programs - [Engage Program](https://engagementoring.com/employee-programs) - [Mentoring Women's Network](https://engagementoring.com/mentoringwomensnetwork) - Resources Show submenu for Resources - [Blogs](https://content.engagementoring.com/blog) - [Podcasts](https://engagementoring.com/resources) - Learn More Show submenu for Learn More - [Our Story](https://engagementoring.com/about) - [In the News](https://engagementoring.com/news) - [Partnerships](https://engagementoring.com/partnership) Open main navigation Close main navigation - Our Programs Show submenu for Our Programs - [Engage Program](https://engagementoring.com/employee-programs) - [Mentoring Women's Network](https://engagementoring.com/mentoringwomensnetwork) - Resources Show submenu for Resources - [Blogs](https://content.engagementoring.com/blog) - [Podcasts](https://engagementoring.com/resources) - Learn More Show submenu for Learn More - [Our Story](https://engagementoring.com/about) - [In the News](https://engagementoring.com/news) - [Partnerships](https://engagementoring.com/partnership) - [Connect](https://engagementoring.com/connect) [Connect](https://engagementoring.com/connect) --- Apr 24, 2023 12:00:00 AM # Mentoring vs Coaching: What is the difference and what to select? [Alison Martin](https://content.engagementoring.com/blog/author/alison-martin) Share: [facebook-f icon](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://content.engagementoring.com/blog/mentoring-vs-coaching-what-is-the-difference-and-what-to-select) [linkedin-in icon](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://content.engagementoring.com/blog/mentoring-vs-coaching-what-is-the-difference-and-what-to-select) [Twitter icon](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://content.engagementoring.com/blog/mentoring-vs-coaching-what-is-the-difference-and-what-to-select) [pinterest-p icon](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://content.engagementoring.com/blog/mentoring-vs-coaching-what-is-the-difference-and-what-to-select) [envelope icon](mailto:?body=https://content.engagementoring.com/blog/mentoring-vs-coaching-what-is-the-difference-and-what-to-select) The terms “mentoring” and “coaching” are often used interchangeably but can be very different.  At[Engage Mentoring](http://www.engagementoring.com), we define mentoring as “knowledge transfer that is ideally based on successful experience.”  In other words, the mentor has been there, done that, done it successfully, and is willing to share their experience and advice on the topic.  By contrast, a coach is someone who is working to move someone from Point A to Point B.  Unlike a mentor, a coach isn’t usually drawing from personal experience only, but is asking good questions, holding the person or persons accountable, and tracking outcomes.  A great example of this is a coach of a basketball team.  Usually a coach isn’t an all-star athlete themselves, but they are skilled at helping draw out the skills and ability of their team. Throughout your career, you may find yourself wanting perspective and it is really important to understand these differences in order to determine if you need a mentor or a coach (or both).  The good news is this is easily discernible once you evaluate your goals and what you are trying to accomplish. Mentors are an incredible way to [shortcut learning](https://engagementoring.com/upskilling-your-workforce-with-a-formalized-mentoring-program/) and build powerful relationships in the process.  Mentors usually come in [four different types](https://engagementoring.com/4-types-of-mentors-you-should-have/), which include peer mentors, someone you aspire to be more like, competency-based mentors, and career mentors. Peer mentors are individuals who occupy a role similar to yours and are ideally successful in the role they occupy.  Peer mentors are typically very approachable and ideally someone you can trust.  Peer mentors are such a powerful and yet often overlooked type of mentor. Career mentors are usually individuals who work in your industry who can give you advice on possible career paths and how to really grow within your company or industry and how to manage your career path and goals effectively. The most common form of mentoring is with someone you aspire to be more like.  This form of mentoring can come from a relationship with someone who occupies a position you would like to have in the future or someone who demonstrates the qualities and skills you would like to have.  Finally, competency-based mentors are people who can teach you skills to help you grow personally and professionally by sharing experiences.  In this form of mentoring, it is important to get clear on the skill or competency you wish to improve and seek out a relationship with someone who has mastered this skill or competency. On the other hand, as outlined above, a coach is someone who can work with you on specific outcomes you wish to achieve. Examples of times in which working with a coach is warranted is when you are looking for help and accountability for a time bound goal or to really shore up a particular skill set with some urgency.  An example of this is when you have moved to a new executive role and need to work quickly to establish yourself in that role and work towards your first 90 day accomplishments.  Another example of where coaching may be prescribed is when there is friction or there are challenges that could have significant impact on productivity. A coach can also help you develop specific skills, such as a sales or leadership coach by combining training with accountability. The first step to determine what is needed is to get clear on your goals and what you are hoping to accomplish or seeking to learn.  Once you have clarity on that, the type of relationship that is warranted usually becomes evident based on what you are trying to accomplish and who the ideal person would be.  *Alison Martin is the Founder and Managing Director of Engage Mentoring, a software-enabled leadership development program that helps companies attract, retain, and develop their talent through strategic mentoring initiatives. For more information, visit* [*www.engagementoring.com*](http://www.engagementoring.com/)*.* ## Related posts [![](https://content.engagementoring.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Screenshot-2023-03-27-at-14-31-02-09-01-20-2-2_jpg-WEBP-Image-1130-%C3%97-642-pixels.png?height=200&name=Screenshot-2023-03-27-at-14-31-02-09-01-20-2-2_jpg-WEBP-Image-1130-%C3%97-642-pixels.png)](https://content.engagementoring.com/blog/upskilling-your-workforce-with-a-formalized-mentoring-program) ## [Upskilling Your Workforce with a Formalized Mentoring Program](https://content.engagementoring.com/blog/upskilling-your-workforce-with-a-formalized-mentoring-program) [Alison Martin](https://content.engagementoring.com/blog/author/alison-martin) Mar 28, 2023 12:00:00 AM Upskilling your workforce efficiently is top of mind for most employers today. A formalized... [Read more](https://content.engagementoring.com/blog/upskilling-your-workforce-with-a-formalized-mentoring-program) [![](https://content.engagementoring.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Picture-1-Oct-24-2024-05-23-10-0373-PM.png?height=200&name=Picture-1-Oct-24-2024-05-23-10-0373-PM.png)](https://content.engagementoring.com/blog/demonstrating-roi-with-your-mentoring-program) ## [Demonstrating ROI with Your Mentoring Program](https://content.engagementoring.com/blog/demonstrating-roi-with-your-mentoring-program) [Alison Martin](https://content.engagementoring.com/blog/author/alison-martin) May 22, 2023 12:00:00 AM Many mentoring programs fail to address a critical part of demonstrating success, which is... [Read more](https://content.engagementoring.com/blog/demonstrating-roi-with-your-mentoring-program) [![](https://content.engagementoring.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Featured-Article-New-Photos-Engage-Mentoring-Blog-4.jpg?height=200&name=Featured-Article-New-Photos-Engage-Mentoring-Blog-4.jpg)](https://content.engagementoring.com/blog/4-types-of-mentors-you-should-have) ## [4 Types of Mentors You Should Have](https://content.engagementoring.com/blog/4-types-of-mentors-you-should-have) [Alison Martin](https://content.engagementoring.com/blog/author/alison-martin) Jun 20, 2022 12:00:00 AM At Engage Mentoring, we teach that everyone should have what we call a “Personal Board of... [Read more](https://content.engagementoring.com/blog/4-types-of-mentors-you-should-have) --- ![engageMentoring_logo](https://content.engagementoring.com/hs-fs/hubfs/engageMentoring_logo.png?width=300&height=91&name=engageMentoring_logo.png "engageMentoring_logo") ## mentoring program for leaders and high potentials - [engage program](https://engagementoring.com/employee-programs) - [mentoring women's network](https://engagementoring.com/mentoringwomensnetwork) - [our story](https://engagementoring.com/about) - [partnerships](https://engagementoring.com/partnership) - [in the news](https://engagementoring.com/news) - [blogs](https://content.engagementoring.com/blog) - [podcasts](https://engagementoring.com/resources) - [connect](https://engagementoring.com/connect) --- # let's get social [facebook-f icon](https://www.facebook.com/engagementoring) [linkedin-in icon](https://www.linkedin.com/company/engagementoring) [instagram icon](https://www.instagram.com/engagementoring) [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.youtube.com/@engagementoring895) [Follow us on Facebook](mailto:info@engagementoring.com) # let's stay connected [SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER](https://share.hsforms.com/1viNVu4yOSjmSPWxptUdIDwd1ggn) [info@engagementoring.com](mailto:info@engagementoring.com) - [home](https://engagementoring.com) - [links](https://engagementoring.com/links) - [terms of service](https://engagementoring.com/terms-of-service) - [privacy](https://engagementoring.com/privacy) ## +1 877.582.4868 © 2026 Engage Mentoring ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Alison Martin", "url" : "https://content.engagementoring.com/blog/author/alison-martin" }, "dateModified" : "2024-10-24T17:22:17.795Z", "datePublished" : "2023-04-24T04:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "Mentoring vs Coaching: What is the difference and what to select? | Engage Mentoring", "image" : [ "https://content.engagementoring.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Why-Coaching-and-Mentoring-is-Important.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://content.engagementoring.com/blog/mentoring-vs-coaching-what-is-the-difference-and-what-to-select", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://content.engagementoring.com/hubfs/EM%20logo-1.png" }, "name" : "Engage Mentoring" } } ```