Coaching vs Mentors

Coaches versus MentorsnBy Debra PestraknnPeople have varying responses to the differences between a mentor and a coach. Some say:

“A mentor is someone you respect.”n“A coach is someone who keeps you focused.”n“A mentor is someone you’d like to be like.”n“A coach tells the truth, whether you like it or not.”n“A mentor is free.”n“You pay a coach.”

There are a lot of descriptions, but the fact is that in business, you need a mentor or mentors. Someone you can bounce ideas off of, and get their feedback and advice. Someone who has experiences in the areas you need to know very specific career advice. They know the in’s and out’s of your business. They’ve been there, they’ve done it. They have demonstrated they are successful. They have the experience you can learn from.

There is no reason to learn things the hard way. Learn from others, incorporate their success into your own. Smart people learn from the best.

When dealing with a mentor you need to be succinct. Prepare ahead of time what you want to ask, the best way to ask it, and how to get the answer you need in the least amount of time. Time is the most important commodity a mentor has. So when you ask for it, be brief and to the point.

People ask me how I got to interview the #1 Real Estate Superstar and the #1 agent from each of the major companies in the nation and 10 of the most powerful women in business. I respond, “Because I asked.” I gave them a compelling reason to want to let me interview them. They all said the same thing, they like to mentor others, to give back. The thing is, very few people will show the courage to decide who they’d like as a mentor, dream a little, and then figure out how to make that happen. If you could pick the best mentor who could help you advance in your career, who would it be? What would it take to make it happen?

When I chose sharing with people, how to get more out of their lives as my passion, one of the first things I did was interview the very top speakers in the National Speakers Association to learn their key lessons in building their business. Doing research and taking other’s advice will save you tons of time, money, energy, frustration, and pain.

Dave Liniger, Founder of RE/MAX took every one of the Van Schaack top sales leaders to dinner shortly after starting to work there. Liniger was eager to learn everything he could to figure out how Van Schaack became such a premiere company. He drilled them for information. He wanted to know what made them so successful.

Find the best in your industry and learn from them. Take them to dinner and find out what they did to become successful. Ask them for advice on what they would do if they were in your specific situation. In order to become the best, you have to be deliberate about learning from the best.

On the other hand, a coach can translate your raw smarts into profitable greatness.

As you look at the best, most have had help getting where they are. The fact is that high achievers (regardless of their field) who have good coaches always achieve more than those who don’t. Even though Tiger Woods is the best golfer currently on the circuit, and he practices a lot, he constantly works with a coach to stay on top. Behind every Olympic or National sports star, is an invisible coach who relentlessly framed this superstar for success, someone who took the raw potential and talent, and channeled it into the winning edge. Top executives and entrepreneurs have long enjoyed the benefits of coaching. Now, coaching is a must for talented people wanting to enjoy reaching their full potential - to take advantage of their God given talents.

The secret to achieving your goals is Accountability.

But not accountability to you, it’s too easy to rationalize things away.

Not accountability to a spouse, partner or friend. They’ll stop nagging you because they don’t want to damage the relationship. A mentor doesn’t have the time.

The secret to accountability is a coach… someone who is committed to you and in helping you reach your goals, someone who will help you along the path. A coach merges focus with accountability, and brings discipline and insight. A coach allows you to effortlessly push past your limits by conceiving the “big picture” and taking you there step-by-step. One day you look up…and you’re there.

It’s about being decisive in your decisions, about knowing when it’s time to reach out for help instead of thinking you can do it all by yourself. Mentors and coaches provide two very different functions and most of the time different expertise, but both are very important to your success.

And since we know that you pay a coach, partnering with a coach should not be a question of cost, it should be a question of results.

Think about it… wouldn’t it be easier to maintain laser focus if you had a caring, knowledgeable, successful coach who has your best interests at heart? In one-on-one telephone coaching sessions, they will nudge, support, and challenge (and yes sometimes push) you to achieving your goals and dreams.

You can expect to:nn• Be required to answer questions, openly and honestly n• Discover how to use the talents you already possess, but aren’t usingn• Respond to the right questions for your lifen• Be held accountable to achieving the goals you set for yourselfn• Shorten the time it would have taken to accomplish what you wantedn• Feel more confident about yourself and where you are goingnnAnd that’s just the beginning.

Coaching unlocks human potential, maximizes performance, leading to a fulfilled life! Coaching provides an opportunity to gain clarity, remove self-imposed limitations and become more self-reliant. Coaching produces positive, lasting change.

Why do it the hard way? Take the smart and easier road and get the assistance you need. Decide who you want as a mentor and go out and get him/her. Want to know if you’re ready for coaching? Double click on Coaching Assessment to take a quick assessment.

If you’re already using a coach, good for you. Keep on target and do what you’ve committed to. If you’re ready for coaching, double click on Debra Pestrak Coaching or call Debra today at 760.434.3343.

Yours in success,

Debrann©2006 Success Unleashed, Inc.® and Debra Pestrak, Inc.