Great question! Often, they are bundled together with no clear distinction between the two. I believe the confusion arises from the fact that the word ‘coaching’ has been borrowed from the world of sport, and therefore implies that the coach is the expert: experienced and knowledgeable in a specific area. You wouldn’t imagine a football club hiring a coach who’d never played the game and didn’t know the rules! In the business and professional development context, that role is more akin to mentoring. I often describe a mentor as ‘an arm around the shoulder’: helping to guide others, drawing on the mentor’s own experience and expertise.

Professional coaching, as referred to here (ie in a non-sporting context) is based on the idea of partnership between coach and client/coachee. Whilst the coach is indeed an expert (for example, in listening skills, effective questioning, challenging with respect etc.) they DO NOT give advice or find solutions. Their only agenda it to support the coachee to achieve their objectives.

For information on coaching and the ethics underpinning the modern coaching profession, please visit the International Coaching Federation at www.coachingfederation.org