Coaching & mentoring

Much has been written about coaching and mentoring, particularly about the distinctions between them. Typically coaching is characterised as result-performance, success or goal directed, with an emphasis on taking action and sustaining changes over time. Coaching is often used to improve performance in a specific area, is more practice than theory driven and relies strongly on interpersonal skills. Mentoring is more often orientated towards an exchange of ‘wisdom’ and is characterised by support, learning or guidance for the purpose of personal, career or life growth.

GoodwinHannah has a practical and pragmatic approach to coaching and mentoring practice. As experienced and senior former chief executives of sizeable system-based organisations, we understand the context, complexities and challenges facing senior managers. We bring this experience to bear in helping coachees make sense of events and in planning for personal improvement and change.

We also understand and are practiced in the theory and principles of coaching: for example, Chris is a qualified executive coach having studied at the Oxford School for Coaching and Mentoring.

During the discussions throughout a course of coach-mentoring sessions we adapt our approach to the coachee’s needs; moving along the coaching–mentoring continuum as appropriate. Sometimes we remain firmly at the non-directive coaching end but when helpful we share our own experiences and ‘wisdom’ drawn from our understanding of the coachee’s work context.

At the outset of a coach-mentoring relationship, we aim to clarify the success criteria the individual has of the coaching experience and discuss the approaches which are most likely to produce the best outcomes.

Although we offer one-off coaching sessions we believe most gain is made through a series of coaching conversations where personal change can be worked on over a sustained period of time. Typically, monthly sessions over a six month period are sufficient to make demonstrable progress on personal coaching objectives.