How would you describe a mentor vs coach? Do they mean the same to you?

CW3 Dylan E. Raymond, PHR — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 10:15:46 -0400

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Apr 30 at 2016 10:39 AM

SGM Steve Wettstein — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 10:39:13 -0400

To me a mentor is someone that I tried to be like and guided me. A coach was someone that taught me how to do things. To me they are/were different but they could be the same.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Apr 30 at 2016 10:45 AM

CPT Jack Durish — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 10:45:04 -0400

Coach as a noun, is a paid position. Mentor as a noun is a position of respect. As verbs, both are very similar.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 30 at 2016 11:21 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 11:21:57 -0400

Coach is someone who helps guide you in your profession. For example, in order for your next promotion you need to do X,Y, and Z. A Mentor does not have to be in your profession. They are there to give you a different perspective on things. For example, you have a soldier who has disciplinary issues and you have tried X, Y, and Z. Yet, nothing seems to be working. A mentor could give you a fresh perspective on it. A Coach and Mentor can be intertwined.

Response by CPT Mark Gonzalez made Apr 30 at 2016 11:39 AM

CPT Mark Gonzalez — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 11:39:37 -0400

I firmly believe that in order to mentor someone it has to be a two way street as time is finite. A mentor sees something of himself in the person he is mentoring to make it worth his time and the relationship becomes stronger over time. A mentor can be all encompassing and is definitely a stronger relationship than a coach. A coach over time can become a mentor, but at first the coach is to train in a particular function. However, the individual coach will expand their duties. I wouldn't pay for a mentor, but I guess we have paid for coaches directly or indirectly.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Apr 30 at 2016 12:10 PM

SGM Erik Marquez — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 12:10:33 -0400

I tend to feel a coach is more directing.. DO IT LIKE THIS. WHen I mentor it is more of helping that person discover what right looks like for them, and then guiding if needed to the established standard or policy.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 30 at 2016 12:43 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 12:43:14 -0400

CW3 Dylan E. Raymond, PHR A coach is directing your effort, often as part of a team. A mentor takes a personalized approach to help you as an individual, succeed in life.

Response by CPO Amb. Terry Earthwind Nichols made Apr 30 at 2016 1:16 PM

CPO Amb. Terry Earthwind Nichols — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 13:16:31 -0400

Great question as I am both and seldom both mentor and coach.
Everyone needs a mentor but not necessarily a coach.
Mentors are focused on you, your wellbeing, and your vision for your life.
Coaches are there to assist you with whatever you are working on such as a business launch or a personal fitness goal.
Perhaps you may have had a mentor oe two in the miltary. I had a number of who were senior enlisted and senior officer too. Each saw something in me that they admired and wanted to help me be a success in my career.
I too mentored those who showed potential for success and I personally mentored a few sailors, both officer and enlisted.
I am open to having a conversation with those of you who are considering a mentor or coach and would love to chat. Contact here, Facebook or call me at [login to see] Eastern.

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made Apr 30 at 2016 2:24 PM

LTC Yinon Weiss — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 14:24:37 -0400

To me, a coach is somebody who helps develop you in a specific functional area, for example, in your sport, in your career, or in a trade. A mentor is somebody who helps develop you more broadly as a person.

Response by 1LT William Clardy made Apr 30 at 2016 4:33 PM

1LT William Clardy — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 16:33:28 -0400

At first blush, I would define the difference as one of scale. Coaches work with groups (or teams), while mentoring requires a one-on-one relationship.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Apr 30 at 2016 6:57 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 18:57:56 -0400

I see it as strategic vs tactical. A mentor is helping you move toward mid- to long-term goals making changes over time. A coach is interested in helping you change the tools, techniques, and attitudes you use to approach close-in problems and issues.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Apr 30 at 2016 8:41 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 20:41:28 -0400

Mentor. Coach is kind of Old School and considering what just happened with "Coach" Hassert it may carry some bad connotations.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made May 1 at 2016 9:56 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Sun, 01 May 2016 21:56:26 -0400

Just MHO, but a mentor to me is someone who has guided me for quite sometime that I have developed a deeper relationship with in a particular environment where a coach is some who has helped me at a particular point but I have not developed an ongoing relationship with.