How many times have you wished for a different life than the one you currently have but don’t know how to start the process? This is where the assistance of a life coach or mentor is the answer. They can help bridge the gap between your current circumstances and the life you’d like to lead. But which one is the better choice to meet your needs?
Life Coach
A life coach can help a person to identify their strengths, help develop them, and help to set personal and professional goals. Their role is to assist you throughout the entire change process. Many people also look to life coaches for help in identifying their passion and carvi
ng out their ideal career path. One of the main benefits of working with a life coach is the ability to gain a fresh, informed perspective on problems that you face. They offer new insight into challenges. A life coach can help you to zero in on negative patterns that could be standing in the way of your success. Some other benefits to be gained with a life coach are finding a better work/life balance, eliminating-long held fears and anxieties, and improving communication skills and creativity. They can work with you to create better financial security, help create a more satisfying work life, and strengthen relationships with family and friends.
With a life coach, you normally attend sessions on a regular basis over a prolonged period of time. This helps ensure that clients are implementing what is necessary to experience significant change. This accountability is a prime advantage of working with a life coach. Clients often achieve their goals more quickly and efficiently than they would if working on their own. You are unable to procrastinate. While life coaches are not licensed to treat mental health conditions like a therapist, working with them may help improve overall mental health and quality of life.
It is important that you don’t expect immediate results. These things take time. That is why it is important to set both short term and long-term goals. It is also necessary to find a life coach who meets your needs. Look for a coach that is suited to working with your personality type and approach to solving problems.
Mentors
If coaching doe
s not fit your needs, then establishing a mentor relationship can be a better source to assist you. A mentor is an individual who acts as an advisor or coach for a less experienced or advanced mentee, providing expertise and professional knowledge from a more experienced perspective. The APA (2006) defines mentoring as a “professional development relationship” having two functions. The first is career-related, placing the mentor as a coach dispensing advice. The second is prosocial and puts the mentor in a role model and support system position. Studies have shown that mentored individuals are more satisfied and committed to their work and score higher on performance evaluations. Investing in a mentor-mentee relationship can be immensely rewarding and beneficial to your career. Mentors can help you gain professional knowledge and develop skills to achieve your personal career goals. They also provide value by connecting you to industry leaders and keeping you abreast of trends. For the mentor, it allows them to practice their own leadership skills by assisting less-experienced people in their industry.
Mentors assist by serving as a reference or sending your resume to companies where you would like to start a career. They can also offer valuable professional advice such as ways to advance in your career, how to improve your resume, and provide interview practice. Mentors can answer questions about their field and challenge their mentees to think critically about their career path. As senior members in their field, they can help mentees consider their long-term development.
Different Types of Mentors
There are different types of mentors. Peer mentors are professional colleagues who advise you. Career mentors tend to be in a higher position than their mentees and serve as career advocates and guides. Life mentors tend to be at senior stages of a career and can be based within or outside of your current company. When choosing a mentor, find someone you are compatible with, you trust, and has the expertise you are looking for. Be open to working with a mentor who has a different background than your own. These mentors could help you see your career from a new perspective. In order to have a successful mentorship, you must be engaged, show interest, and be active in the relationship. It is important to be respectful of your mentor’s time by not reaching out to them more frequently than necessary.
Which is Better for You?
The main difference between a mentor and a life coach involves learning. Mentors teach you to do as they do from their personal experience, while life coaches teach you to do as they say from their training and education. Mentoring is a long-term process based on mutual trust and respect. Coaching, on the other hand, is usually for a shorter period of time. Mentoring is more focused on creating an informal relationship while life coaching is usually a more structured and formal approach.
Choosing between a life coach and a mentor is really a personal choice based upon your needs and expectations. But at the end of the day, both are there to contribute to your success.