“You get the best effort from others not by lighting a fire beneath them, but by building a fire within.”
Bob Nelson

Coaching and mentoring are emerging as new techniques in management, leadership and in developing potential within people employed by organisations of all types. The terms are often used interchangeably, but mean slightly different things.

Coaching is a process for developing skills in people. The main situation in which this occurs is when a manager, supervisor, a team leader works with a subordinate or team member. The senior person uses his or her experience and skills to impart learning to the other person.

Mentoring is a process for developing knowledge in people over the long term. As with coaching, the main situation in which mentoring occurs is when a manager, supervisor, team leader works with a subordinate or team member.