It wasn’t until I became an advisor that I thought very seriously about what this role entails, and how the role of advisor differs from the role of mentor and coach.
While these terms are often use interchangeably, they can mean very different things. They also are supported by different actions and behaviours.
In your own career you may have observed this too. You may have also thought about taking on one of these roles yourself, so that you could share your skills and expertise with others.
A Short Summary Of The Difference Between a Mentor, Advisor and Coach
In thinking about these roles, I thought carefully about how I interpreted the differences between these roles.
Often a mentor or advisor is assumed to have personally succeeded in a discipline related to the area they are mentoring or advising on.
For example, a successful entrepreneur could mentor or advise other aspiring entrepreneurs.
A mentor provides a psychological commitment over an enduring period to help an individual on a chosen path.
An advisor provides value by giving targeted and potentially infrequent advice. Often, there is an expectation that an advisor will be more directive than the other roles. Mentors and coaches may lead by asking questions and giving open space for the person they’re guiding to discover their own answers.
A coach is there to assist an individual, team or business to reach their full potential.
While mentors and advisors are often expected to have expertise and personal experience in the area they provide guidance on, the same is not always true for a coach. For example, a coach may have a successful career coaching professional soccer teams, but not have been a player themselves.
A More Detailed Summary Of These Differences
In thinking about these differences, I also thought about some of the approaches each role could take.
If you are looking for a more detailed explanation of the differences, this table gives a more detailed breakdown of the outcomes of a mentor, advisor and a coach.
| Area | Mentor | Advisor | Coach |
| Personal Skill / Experience In The Focus Area | High | High | Low-Med (Can be High, but not essential) |
| Emotional Commitment | High | Medium | Medium |
| Length of Relationship | Medium to Long term, focused on depth | Short to Medium term | Short to Medium term |
| Commercial Terms | Often no commercial terms | May or may not have commercial terms | May or may not have commercial terms |
| Mode of learning | Being around the mentor, seeing how they make decisions. | Provide wisdom, guidance or advice, often to very targeted areas. | Skilled at transferring knowledge / skills (with a view to improve performance / potential). |
| Goal | Skill and expertise development, toward a path of mastery. | Targeted advice that magnifies value / impact / outcome. | Unlock performance / realise potential toward a stated goal. |
| Time Commitment | True mentorships imply a good portion of shared time together. | Less frequent, but important, focused interactions. | Frequent and sustained, through the practice of regular training. |
If you are planning to take on one of these roles, I would encourage you to consider if you agree with the distinctions in the table above.
What would you change? What do you agree with? Just doing this will give you further clarity on how you will take on any of these roles.
While definitions vary, I would caution against the way ‘mentors’ are used in many business settings. Often I will hear people say “maybe you should get a mentor for an hour a month to help you with your development plan?”
This is a useful action but also a somewhat narrow view of mentorship.
True mentorship is gained through meaningful connection, shared time, and both philosophical and practical teaching. Often a mentorship used in business settings is actually more like an advisor relationship. It may also be worthwhile considering the qualities of a great mentor.
Any of these three roles can provide an incredible opportunity for you to connect with others. In doing this, you may discover a broader appreciation for both the skills you possess and how your skills can help others.
If you have views on this article or would like to share your experiences of being or working with a mentor, advisor or coach, consider leaving a comment below.
