The Purpose of Coaching & Mentoring

 I’ve been thinking a lot recently about the purpose of coaching and mentoring.  I attended a meeting at LSIS where we looked at a list of purposes.  I’ve out some of them below and I’d be interested to hear what you think of them and whether you have any others you’d like to add into the pot.

 The key purpose of coaching and mentoring is …..

  …to help an individual to develop personally and/or professionally in a given context

  …to provide support for the development of an individual in a given context

  …to enable an individual to develop through the transfer of knowledge, understanding and skills based on the experience of another

  …the acquisition of skills, knowledge and understanding through which people renew their abilities and maximise their impact

   …to facilitate the performance, learning and development of an individual (in a given context)

  …to help an individual to learn through the knowledge and experiences of others

  …to help individuals to develop competencies to manage their learning to fulfil their potential

 And finally – the one suggested by LSIS in the new National Occupational Standards for Coaching and Mentoring:

 “To facilitate, in a given context, learning, development and performance, to help others to develop the skills, competences and attitudes to achieve the desired outcomes.”

 If you’d like to take part in the survey about the draft NOS for Coaching and Mentoring then go to this link (closing date for submissions 11/11/11) 

http://www.snapsurveys.com/swh/surveylogin.asp?k=131582521094

And to see the draft NOS go to http://www.excellencegateway.org.uk/page.aspx?o=320143

Carol Brooks