Mentoring, on the other hand, is a professional development tool in which a less experienced employee seeks advice, learning and support from a more experienced professional. Unlike training, which may be necessary, mentoring is an ongoing social learning relationship between two people. Mentoring, on the other hand, is an informal relationship between two people, often based on trust. While a mentor can do many of the same things as a coach or even a coach, they have no formal obligation to do so.
A mentoring relationship is one that sometimes develops naturally from an already formed professional association, or even a friendship (in some cases). One of the parties can actively seek out another (older) person and request real guidance or mentoring. But sometimes, mentoring takes place without any party naming it. When it matures, the relationship will gradually fade away and, if you're lucky, it will turn into a friendship of peers.
Lori is an educator and has worked for more than 10 years as a professor of social psychology and group dynamics while serving as interim dean of students at Holy Names University. She is certified by the industry reference standard, the Coaches Training Institute, and is a founding member of the Genentech Preferred Trainer Network.
