Which statement best distinguishes mentoring from coaching?

Which statement best distinguishes mentoring from coaching?

• A. Coaching is long term; Mentoring is for general career guidance
• B. Mentoring and coaching are the same
• C. Mentoring is long term; Coaching addresses a specific skill
• D. Mentoring is for short-term skill development

Answer: (C)

The main idea is that mentoring and coaching differ in focus and time horizon. Mentoring is a long-term, broad relationship aimed at overall career development and guidance, often informal and shaping development over years. Coaching is a short- to medium-term process that targets a specific skill or performance need, with structured sessions, clear objectives, and deliberate practice. So the statement that mentoring is long term while coaching addresses a specific skill best captures the difference. The other ideas either treat coaching as long-term or mentoring as narrowly skill-specific, or claim they are the same, which doesn’t fit how these approaches are typically used.

The main idea is that mentoring and coaching differ in focus and time horizon. Mentoring is a long-term, broad relationship aimed at overall career development and guidance, often informal and shaping development over years. Coaching is a short- to medium-term process that targets a specific skill or performance need, with structured sessions, clear objectives, and deliberate practice. So the statement that mentoring is long term while coaching addresses a specific skill best captures the difference. The other ideas either treat coaching as long-term or mentoring as narrowly skill-specific, or claim they are the same, which doesn’t fit how these approaches are typically used.