Coaching is Expert-aided Goal-oriented Learning

Executive Coaching
Manorot Kusolasakd, Manager, Thailand
Coach with psychological counseling background is to help client dig out their hidden talent and utilize them.

The Role of the Coach in Coaching
venkataramanan, Professor, India
Coaching presupposes the existence of a coach. He is expected to give an overview of the subject/game etc. Watch performance, identify areas of deficiencies & suggest improvements etc.

Coaching is Goal-oriented Education by a Professional
Bayissa Milkessa, Business Consultant, Ethiopia
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.

Coaching or Mentoring?
Jaap de Jonge, Editor, Netherlands
@Bayissa Milkessa: Excellent, see also this more comprehensive discussion on Mentoring versus Coaching at 12manage.

Executive Coaching
Per-Egill Frostmann, Management Consultant, Norway
I think this might be a useful clarification: Coaching is learning and development with the intent of improving performance and appropriate action, goal achievement and personal learning. This entails growth, development and change; in perspectives, attitudes, behaviors and the ability to learn.
An executive coach therefore works with business objectives; and areas of personal learning, development and objectives.
This definition is based on: Bluckert, P. (2008) Psychological Dimensions of Executive Coaching, based on Kilburg (2000) and Grant (2003).