|June 30, 2025
Redundant Meaning: What Is The Redundancy Process In The UK?
Redundancy’s a tough subject. Whether you’re the one having to break the news or the one about to go through... Read more...
£60
If you’re in HR or management, chances are you’ve explored coaching and mentoring when looking at how to support employees. In this guide, we cover coaching vs mentoring – the differences.
It’s not uncommon for these terms to be used interchangeably – but as we’ll explain, they’re not the same thing. You can match the right kind of support to your team’s needs by better understanding the nuanced difference between coaching and mentoring,
The recent LinkedIn Workplace Learning Report 2025 found that 88% of businesses are concerned about employee retention. Providing learning opportunities is learning and talent development professionals’ #1 retention strategy.
Equally, if you’re an employee or individual about to receive coaching or mentoring support (or in the market for it), it’s important to understand what you’re getting and how to make the most of it. Let’s break down what coaching and mentoring actually are, how they differ and when to use each.
Coaching is a focused process where someone – usually with formal training – helps a person improve specific skills or reach set goals.
It’s common in performance management or leadership development.
A coach might help someone prepare for a promotion, improve communication, or tackle challenges like time management. Read more in our guides – job promotion meaning in business and the benefits of time management.
Coaching programmes often address a particular task or mission. There’s a clear objective to be achieved – with the input of an expert.
Indeed, coaches usually follow a set structure or framework. Sessions are goal-driven, and the coach’s role is to ask questions, offer feedback and guide the employee to find their own answers.
They’re not there to simply tell someone what to do – they’re there to help that person figure it out themselves.
Mentoring is more relationship-focused than process-driven.
A mentor is typically a more experienced colleague who shares their knowledge, advice and support over time. There’s usually no set agenda – conversations might cover career choices, handling workplace dynamics, or building confidence.
Where coaching is task-focused, mentoring is person-focused. It’s less formal, and often longer-term.
Mentoring works well for onboarding, career progression or helping someone adjust to a new environment. Many companies pair junior staff with mentors to improve retention and job satisfaction.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the difference between mentoring and coaching:
| Coaching | Mentoring |
| Structured and short-term | Informal and long-term |
| Goal or performance-focused | Development and relationship-focused |
| Coach may be external or trained professional | Mentor usually internal and experienced |
| Works well for skill-building and overcoming challenges | Ideal for career growth and confidence-building |
| Coach asks questions to guide self-discovery | Mentor shares advice based on experience |
In short, coaching and mentoring can both help people grow – they just do it in different ways.
If you’re a team leader in charge of employee development, the choice between coaching and mentoring depends on what your team needs.
For example, you might decide to…
Use coaching when:
Use mentoring when:
If you’re wondering how to be a good line manager, it’s something we’ve discussed in our recent blog.
For employees, it helps to know what kind of support you’re receiving. A mentor is someone you build a relationship with over time. A coach is more like a short-term guide to help you improve in a focused area.
Both can be helpful – just at different times in your career.
The main difference is that coaching is short-term and goal-focused, while mentoring is long-term and relationship-based. Coaches help improve performance. Mentors help guide careers.
In business, coaching usually helps employees build specific skills or hit targets. Mentorship focuses on guiding someone through their career path and personal development.
Career coaching often involves structured sessions with a trained coach to set and reach career goals. Mentoring is more informal and based on shared experience and advice.
If you’re trying to hit a specific goal, such as improving public speaking or preparing for a promotion, a coach might be best. If you’re looking for guidance on your career path, a mentor could be more helpful.
Yes – sometimes a coach becomes a mentor over time, especially if a strong relationship builds. But their roles and methods are different, so it’s good to be clear about expectations.
Learn from seasoned industry experts with our 1-on-1 Coaching service!
Coaching and mentoring both play important roles in professional development. If you’re interested in taking on the role yourself, check out our guide –how to become a life coach.
A mentoring relationship often develops over time and centres on sharing wisdom and guidance for holistic development. Coaching relationships, however, typically involve structured coaching sessions that address specific goals and support professional growth.
Both coaching and mentoring require strong interpersonal skills, yet coaching focuses on measurable outcomes and performance improvements. Executive coaching equips leaders with coaching skills that enhance employee engagement and drive results.
Mentoring highlights key skills such as empathy and long-term vision, whereas coaching prioritises actionable feedback and accountability. Organisations that value both approaches see benefits in employee engagement and the cultivation of key skills essential for success.
Coaching helps people work on specific goals in a structured way. Mentoring builds confidence and career direction through a trusted relationship.
If you’re managing people, choosing the right approach can help your team grow. If you’re an employee, knowing what to expect – and how to get the most out of it – can be a big step in your development.
Want to take the next step in your professional journey? We have recently launched our own range of career coaching services at PurpleCV – if you have any queries, please contact us for more information.
We value your privacy! Please take a moment to customise your cookie preferences. By clicking 'Accept,' you agree to the use of cookies for analytics and marketing purposes.