Frequently Asked Questions
What are the differences between Coaching and Mentoring?
The following illustrates the difference between the two approaches (Source Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, January 2008):
Coaching:
- Coach comes with specialist coaching skills applicable in a range of situations
- Holistic focus ie whole person, work plus everything else
- Relationship generally short/ medium term, sometimes timebound; sessions usually structured in nature with regular meetings scheduled
- Focuses on specific goals or areas for improvement, often as much about holistic personal as professional development
- Coach seeks answers from within coachee and does not offer advice
Mentoring:
- Mentor is often more senior and comes with specialist professional/ organisational knowledge
- Primary focus is work/ professional person
- Ongoing more flexible relationship can last over long period of time with periods of little / no contact
- Focuses on work based professional issues and career development
- Mentor may offer advice, provide opportunities and introduce mentee to professional networks
How do I become a registered coach?
In order to be part of Public Service Management Wales' (PSMW) Register of Welsh public service coaches, you need to be:
- An employee of the Welsh public service
- Qualified to coach others, with an Institute for Leadership and Management (ILM) or equivalent qualification in coaching
- Be a practising coach committed to professional development
- Working to the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) or International Coach Federation (ICF) Code of Ethics
What level of Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) training is right for me?
Following the ILM structure, there are three levels of qualification in coaching and mentoring:
Level 3 Award in Coaching for Team Leaders and First Line Managers
The ILM Level 3 Award for Professional Workplace Coaches aims to provide practising/potential team leaders and first line managers with the knowledge, skills and confidence to perform effectively as workplace coaches as part of their normal work role.
Level 5 Certificate in Management Coaching and Mentoring
The Level 5 Certificate qualification in Coaching and Mentoring aims to provide practising managers with the knowledge, skills and confidence to perform effectively as coaches or mentors as part of their normal work role.
Level 7 Certificate or Diploma in Leadership Mentoring and Executive Coaching
The Level 7 Certificate in Coaching and Mentoring aims to provide practising senior leaders/ managers (or those working in a training and development role) with the knowledge, skills and confidence to perform effectively as executive coaches or leadership mentors, working to support leaders and senior managers in improving their performance.
The ILM Level 7 Diploma for Professional Executive Coaches and Leadership Mentors is aimed at participants who will be significantly involved in executive coaching/ leadership mentoring, within an organisation.
Please note that these descriptions have been taken direct from ILM’s website.
To help you identify which level of ILM qualification might be best for you, ILM also has an online questionnaire, which you can access to help assess the level you might want to start at. Further detail about the qualifications and what is involved for the student is also available on the ILM website (External link).
Alternatively you can call a member of the PSMW Coaching Team for a chat.
Do I need a coach or a mentor?
This could depend on whether you are looking very much for direction and advice to progress your career from someone with experience in your field of work who operates at a more senior level (mentor) or someone who will use structured approaches, listening and questioning skills to help you make your own decisions, solve a problem, find your own solutions (coach).
It could be that there is need for both relationships. If in doubt please contact the Coaching Team via psmwcoachingandmentoring@wales.gsi.gov.uk where someone will be happy to talk to you about your individual needs.
How do I find a coach/mentor?
If you are interested in accessing a mentor, please contact the Coaching Team via e-mail psmwcoachingandmentoring@wales.gsi.gov.uk outlining what you are looking for.
If you are interested in Coaching and how it can help to develop others, you may also be interested in our Sowing Seeds document, entitled “Coaching – Developing People for Success in Public Service Delivery”.