Helping people understand what coaching really is

Many staff are still unsure about the aims of coaching or how it may be differentiated from another key development and learning activity, mentoring.

This paper explores some of the issues in making clear what coaching is and highlights one effective way of improving people's understanding.

It draws on IES's coaching evaluation in the NHS to highlight the need for clearer information for staff outside of the executive level about how coaching and mentoring differ, and how each approach may be valued for different reasons and at different times.