Innovation Coaching and Innovation Mentoring What Is The Difference?
The topic this week is one that I have touched on over the years in various ways. People reach out to me all the time asking about this.\xa0 Coaching, as well as mentoring, often get placed in the same category. In reality, they are different. We will discuss the differences between innovation coaching and mentoring and will run through some application scenarios.
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\nInnovation Coaching
\nWhen it comes to the topic of coaching and mentoring, many people often find themselves confused. They don\u2019t understand that innovation coaching and innovation mentoring are not the same. Coaching is the most common activity when it comes to innovation.
\nIn general, coaching and mentoring are two of the top five most popular jobs out there. Innovation coaching is kind of like a sports coach. In baseball, there is a pitching coach who trains pitchers to improve in their craft. Pitching coaching is just like innovation coaching, as it seeks to help one improve in a specific area based on an assessment. It tends to be limited in duration. Also, it only works best with measurable and tangible improvement opportunities.
\nA good innovation coach will offer clear direction for improvement based on an assessment of one\u2019s needs. Coaching can be on the individual level, team level, or for an entire organization. An innovation coach should be able to assess and tell you what area you need to improve. They should lay out a plan for improving and being more successful in a specific area.
\nInnovation Mentoring
\nMentoring is a less specific and tangible area that looks at the big picture, such as your career. An innovation mentor is a trusted advisor that crosses personal and professional lines and might be with you for many years. They help craft broader goals along with the skills and experiences to achieve them. When looking for an\xa0innovation mentor, choose someone you can learn from. You want one that has achieved innovation success in their career.
\nUsually focused on the individual, I have done long-term mentoring for innovation teams as well. Mentoring sessions are less formal than coaching sessions and are on an as-needed basis. Fees for mentoring most likely come from the individual. A successful mentoring role should last many years and stay constant no matter if the organization you\u2019re in changes.
\nThere may be no fees required in rare cases if you become close to the mentor. Don\u2019t expect mentoring to be free just because some mentors might typically do it out of the kindness of the heart. Remember, mentoring relationships require time and transparency to be successful. A mentor can\u2019t do their job if you are not honest with them, and vice versa.
\nCoaching vs. Mentoring
\nOne of the best ways to show the differences between an innovation coach or mentor is to run through some scenarios.
\nFirst scenario: Your team is struggling to create a pitch for an idea to secure funding from your organization. You need to figure out the best way to structure your pitch to secure the funding. Is innovation coaching or mentoring the best way to aid you in your pursuit? \xa0In this situation, you could hire an innovation coach because it is a specific issue you are trying to resolve. You want to find a coach that has an excellent track record of helping teams craft pitches. Be sure to pay the coach for the work they are doing, rather than saying you\u2019ll pay them upon success.
\nSecond scenario: Your CEO has asked you to develop innovation leaders within your existing staff. Would this be innovation coaching or mentoring? With a longer-term goal that is not tangible, so in this case,