Coaching is Goal-oriented Education by a Professional
Bayissa Milkessa, Business Consultant, Ethiopia, Member
Coaching is not goal oriented-learning. Rather it is
goal-oriented education. Because education involves an instructor and so does coaching. Learning on the other hand does not necessarily imply the need for an instructor. So because 'education' implies the need for an instructor, it is better to express coaching in terms of 'goal-oriented education'.
We learn by ourselves, from family, friends, from our environment and so on. As a result, learning is a lifelong process. It may not be aimed at accomplishing a specific purpose as is the case with coaching. Thus learning can better be related to mentoring. Because mentoring is a a lifelong process of learning from family, environment, society, friends and so forth. Typically by a senior person. Unlike coaching which is done by professional (paid) coaches.
Conclusions: in my view, in general
- Coaching is goal-oriented education by a professional to bring a desired result.
- Mentoring is a lifelong learning by a senior person to ensure success in all aspects of life.
