What is Coaching? Coaching vs. Consulting, Mentoring, & Therapy

Dear Real Academics,

Introduction

Some of you may have heard of "academic coaches". If you search for this term online, you'll likely get websites with services to coach high school students or college students through their coursework or exams. To me, this is more like "tutoring". And...to muddle things more....coaching is not the same as "consulting" or "mentoring" or "therapy." So what is coaching and who uses this type of service and how does this look in higher education? 

First, what is coaching?

Coaching is a relationship-based model in which the coach helps clients solve problems for themselves by using tools such as (1) transformative conversations, (2) goal setting, and (3) accountability. 

When appropriate, a coach may provide expert insights, advice, and resources. Ultimately, though, clients are the ones "driving the bus" (i.e., in charge of and responsible for their decisions).

If you've ever been to a gym, this is kind of like hiring a personalized trainer. Perhaps you've been going to the gym and doing well, but you're ready for the next level and don't know quite how to "get to it". Or you're ready for a change in your routine, but don't know what to do next and want to work through some ideas. The personalized trainer may do some simple assessments, provide ideas and structures, and hold you accountable so you make future progress. But, what you choose to do and the results are ultimately up to you. And, just like personal training, coaching can be individualized or done in group settings.

How is coaching different from consulting, mentoring, and therapy?

- Consulting focuses on solving clients' problems for them. 

Following the gym/physical metaphor, this might be like a trainer that is also a nutritionist. They weigh you, take your BMI, maybe take blood samples, and then analyze all the information to come up with a regimented intervention to help fix your problem. You're still responsible to follow-through, but there's an expert-focused intervention taking place to fix an issue. 

Another way to understand consulting is that of a business consultant taking several weeks or months observing a work situation, conducting interviews, running focus groups, crunching numbers, and then coming up with a business intervention to fix a company/workplace. This can happen at higher administrative levels in higher education.

- Mentoring focuses on providing expert advice to help an individual maneuver a problem.

Following the gym/physical metaphor this is like a more senior trainer helping another trainer problem solve a situation with a gym client/member. 

In higher education, mentoring could look like a senior faculty member helping a junior faculty member maneuver departmental politics.

- Therapy focuses on helping fix a client in some way.

Following the gym/physical metaphor, this is like going to physical therapy to fix a past injury. The injury needs to be addressed and dealt with before you can move forward. 

For academics, dealing with deep emotional past issues with professional therapists and/or counselors may be important for being able to just function in a work environment in the present.

Coaching may step into the realm of consulting and mentoring when offering expert advice, intervention ideas, and resources. This is where the lines blur among coaching, consulting, and mentoring. 

A coach, however, is not and should not be a therapist. Therapy is focused on digging into the past to fix something, while coaching is focused on future change. There is a time and space for therapy, and a coach may even recommend therapy if the client has past things they need to work through before being ready to move forward.

What kind of people seek out coaching?

High-achieving individuals who care deeply about their achievement, goals, career, and dreams seek out coaching. People in higher education tend to naturally fall into this category (Otherwise, why would anyone seek out a doctoral degree and choose to go through the tenure process? ☺).

These are people who are wanting to move forward and are seeking out support for figuring how to reach their goals. These are people wanting change. These may be individuals going through a transition phase in their education, work, or career and/or want to explore new possibilities.

If this sounds like you, then coaching may be a great option! (And, should I mention we offer this type of service?).

How can coaching help people in higher education?

Here are just a few examples:
- Coaching can help graduate students make changes so they can get their dissertations done.
- Coaching can help early/mid career faculty make changes to be more productive and less stressed/more balanced in their work life.
- Coaching can help academics making career moves or changes (e.g., applying to academic jobs; thinking of a career shift or change).

Closing

So, there you have it, Real Academics! 

This is my attempt of muddling through these sometimes confusing terms that often intersect boundaries. I also want to acknowledge that creating gym/physical metaphors was an idea from feedback from Rebekah Huerta. Thank you!

At Real Academics we help individuals be joyful, productive, and successful in their academic, learning, and life pursuits. Find out more about us and what we can do alongside you at www.therealacademics.com. As always, we love to hear from you! I'd especially love to hear your perspective on this topic, especially if you consider yourself a coach in higher education and/or if you have experienced coaching yourself. Send us an email at inforealacademics@gmail.com.

Until next time, happy writing, productivity, and truth-seeking,

Maggie

P. S. If interested in reading more about coaching, here are two sources to get you started:

General coaching:
Co-Active Coaching: The Proven Framework for Transformative Conversations at Work and in Life (4th ed.) by Kimsey-House et al.

Coaching in higher education:
How to Become an Academic Coach by Averill and Hutchinson
Note: I'm still looking for a better source on coaching in higher education...let me know if you have one please!