Understanding the Difference: How Do Training, Counseling, and Mentoring Vary?

Hi, can you help me find the difference between training, counseling, and mentoring?

Understanding the Differences: Training, Counseling, and Mentoring

Training is when a person knows what to do but their skills need enhancement. For example, a salesman may undergo training to learn better selling techniques.

Counseling is for when a person has a problem and cannot deal with it or does not know how to manage it. For example, a person may get stressed at work.

Mentoring is for when a person needs help, advice, and guidance. For instance, when a person is promoted to the position of a Manager but requires additional skills such as leadership.

I hope the above information helps.

Regards,
Harsh

A good explanation has been posted by Mr. Harsh. Let me try to add my understanding.

TRAINING

It is given to individuals for improving performance in their existing job or when they need to learn new skills.

Examples:
- Workmen attending programs on topics like First Aid, Firefighting, SAP.

COUNSELLING

This helps a person overcome a difficult decision-making situation.

Examples:
- Helping students choose the branch/college before taking up Engineering.
- Patients under illness/medication require counseling to aid in their recuperation.
- Someone whose performance was not good in the previous year needs counseling.

MENTORING

Usually, this is a process where an in-house guide or guru sets up a relationship with the mentee.

Examples:
- A mentor is mostly a senior person (in age or by position) in an organization.
- A mentee is the beneficiary who is guided by a mentor.
- The process is called mentoring.
- The job of the mentor is to quickly integrate the mentee as a team member.
- For the mentee, the mentor is the go-to person to get solutions to the difficulties faced in an organization.

Regards,
V. Raghunathan

You already have a few responses to your query. I am now giving you a different response. You need to read this carefully and let me know if it makes sense to you. This advice was given to me by David Walkden of Quality Skills Group.

Understanding Mentoring

Mentoring most of the time involves listening to people and building two types of relationships: the first is a business relationship, and the second is a personal relationship. You wear only one hat, and you make it clear which hat you are wearing (if you know about the 7 hats, then this will make sense). Having listened, you repeat back your understanding and ask, "Do you think I understand?"

Sometimes you can give advice immediately and get them to put it into practice immediately or agree on a time frame. Or you may ask them to give you some time to provide all the options in writing.

The Role of Mentoring

Mentoring teaches life skills, interpersonal skills, and business skills. All these must have solid foundations, never off-the-cuff stuff. The mentor must appear to be a master in the subject.

You need to have a background in people management and be completely confidential, able to build confidence, and motivate the person you are mentoring.

Mentoring is not book knowledge but speaking from life experience.

Best regards,

Ronald