We’re often asked, “What’s the difference between coaching, mentoring, and consulting?”. A coach is a thinking partner. They ask questions that lead you to self-discovery. They are not leading or directing you to the answers but helping you along the path of self-discovery.
A mentor is a guide. Someone who’s been there before. They’ve walked the road and they’re sharing their personal experiences. They lay out a roadmap. Choosing to walk that path is up to you.
A consultant is just an expert. They’re someone that has looked at the situation from all sides. They have expertise in the specific challenge and will give you that knowledge to support you.
Each approach has a distinct use case. They are not interchangeable, and each situation needs a different expert. They are not mutually exclusive and can be used in conjunction with each other to support the learning and development process.
At Cloverleaf, we believe in coaching for everyone. Learn more about coaching and why it’s important.
