Articles
What’s the Difference Between Mentoring and Coaching?
by Rik Nemanick, Ph.D. I am often asked what the difference is between “mentoring” and “coaching”. While many people use the terms interchangeably, I think of them as being related but different. Part of the distinction can be seen in their respective definitions: Coach: a tutor who gives private or specialized teaching. Mentor: an experienced [...]
Mentoring in Practice: Maxine Clark of Build-A-Bear
Mentoring in Practice A Conversation with Maxine Clark, CEO of Build-A-Bear Workshop Q. Tell me a little about how you started Build-A-Bear workshop. A. I have been in the retail business for over 25 years starting as an executive trainee at the May department Stores in 1972 and rising to be the President of Payless [...]
What to Do When the Mentor is the Boss
In general, I recommend against a boss trying to mentor her or his own direct reports. While providing coaching to all of one’s subordinates is encouraged, being a mentor to those who report to you can be fraught with challenges: 1. The present intrudes. When bosses try to mentor their own subordinates, their conversations tend [...]
Mentoring in Practice: Jeff Cook of ARCO Construction
Mentoring in Practice: A Conversation with Jeff Cook, Co-Founder and CEO of ARCO Construction Co. Q. Tell me a little about your history as an entrepreneur. A. During high school and college, I worked with friends as partners painting houses, cutting lawns, sealing driveways to pay expenses and have spending money. After college, it was a [...]