Have you considered using a Coach or Mentor? What are the positive influences of coaching and mentorship? Why might you benefit from a coach or mentor? Well, first let’s dive into what coaches and mentors are.

Coaches and mentors have some similarities but also some differences. Coaches and mentors nurture skills, challenge, and implement positive change. Both roles are often one-on-one and involve mutual trust and respect. Both roles are meant to help accelerate the individual in the chosen area of interest. Additionally, both have the capacity to create big shifts in methods, ways of thinking, and problem solving.

So, how does coaching and mentoring differ? Coaching typically focuses on shorter-term specific goals, where as mentoring tends to be a broader-view approach that helps with personal growth. Kind of like “how do I solve this problem” verses “how do I make adjustments in my life to no longer have this problem”. Both are crucial since the problem needs to be solved and I want to figure out how to no longer have the problem. Another difference between the two is that coaching tends to be specific or specialized and mentoring tends to be more about building the skills for independent thinking/problem solving that applies to a wide range of issues. Say you have a weight-loss goal, your coach is going to give you instructions and methods to loose weight, and your mentor is going to help you to understand why you made the choices that caused your weight; which helps you to be empowered to make better choices in your habits and any other area your previous way of thinking effected. Both coaching and mentoring has its own gifts and offerings, but instead of thinking one or the other, it can be highly beneficial to enlist both in your life.

Now that you know a little more about coaches and mentors, what’s in it for you? Well, some of the most successful people on the planet have coaches and mentors. This is because essentially we need the experiences and expertise of other people to be able to move forward into the unknown in big ways and show up as our best possible versions. The majority of people rely upon their immediate circle of family and friends to fill these roles. While there is absolutely tons of value in this, our immediate circle can be limited in experience or knowledge, especially when it comes to specific or specialized topics. Using a coach or mentor gives you access to a person who has become specialized over time through training, life experience, and passion. And, because of the nature of the relationship being professional it is often easier for the person receiving the coaching or mentoring to follow through with goals and expectations set for them. Additionally, because the coach or mentor is a hired professional they are going to follow through, and reliably show up for you.  

A person can seek coaching or mentoring for virtually anything they want to get better and excel at or want to make a change in their life but do not know how. These professionals specialize in business, relationships, and personal growth just to name a few areas. A mentor or coach helps you to make a plan and set goals, but more importantly they keep you accountable and motivated to continue to move forward.

Are you ready to make a positive shift in your life? Consider giving coaching or mentoring a try.