Coaching and Mentoring Skills: A Workplace Effectiveness Report

This report delves into the crucial roles of coaching and mentoring in the workplace, particularly within the context of Beauty Lady, a beauty care services provider. It begins by defining and differentiating between coaching and mentoring, highlighting their purposes in enhancing employee skills, abilities, and overall workplace effectiveness. The report outlines the benefits of coaching, such as improved communication, enhanced productivity, increased employee commitment, and reduced stress levels. Similarly, it details the advantages of mentoring, including the development of better career paths, employee motivation, and the reduction of anxiety and stress. The main body also explores the knowledge, skills, and attitudes essential for effective coaches and mentors. Through a comparative analysis of coaching and mentoring activities, the report underscores their distinct approaches and objectives. The report concludes by summarizing the key findings and emphasizing the significance of coaching and mentoring in fostering a productive and supportive work environment. The report also includes references for further study.

Coaching
And
Mentoring Skills

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Explain the purpose of coaching and mentoring skills in a workplace. Discuss similarities and
differences of coaching and mentoring activities........................................................................1
Using a defined model of coaching or mentoring, critically evaluate its benefits for developing
individuals' workplace effectiveness...........................................................................................7
Critically explore the knowledge, skills and attitude and behaviours needed by an effective
workplace coach or mentor.........................................................................................................9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................13
REFRENCES.................................................................................................................................15

INTRODUCTION
In a company coaching and mentoring plays an essential role as it help ever staff in
enhancing their skills as well as abilities in order to accomplish work effectively. Coaching is
considered as procedure which aim is to improve performance of an individual as well as focuses
on here and now rather than focus on distant past or future (Deiorio and et. al., 2016). In this
process generally coach help a person in improving their performance by help them through
learning activities. This concept is mainly originated from the sports in which coach their players
how to play effectively in order to win match. On the other hand, mentoring is defined as a
process in which mentor generally guide others in order to help them in learning or develop
faster so that they conduct their work effectively. This concept is similar to coaching process.
In this senior colleague who have more knowledge and skills mentor as well as advice
their subordinates so that they accomplish their work effectively. Both coaching and monitoring
help a company in conducting their activities in proper manner as well as both required
appropriate communication so that effectual interaction will be done among mentor or coach and
learners. Organization taken for this report is Beauty Lady which is situated at London, United
Kingdom. They provide variety of beauty care services and products for lady so that they look
more beauty full and attractive. The main aim of developing this project is to understand about
mentoring as well as coaching by evaluating its purpose and difference. It will also include
benefits of conducting these process at workplace as well as it will also include knowledge,
skills, attitude and behaviour which are required to become coach and mentor at workplace.
MAIN BODY
a) Explain the purpose of coaching and mentoring skills in a workplace. Discuss similarities and
differences of coaching and mentoring activities.
Coaching is defined as a procedure which aim is to improve performance of workers so
that they conduct work effective in order to attain goal as well as objective. It is also consider as
process of unlocking an individual's potential to enhance their performance, this will help them
in learning rather than teaching them (Denmark and Podsen, 2013). The coaching is based on the
major five principles i.e. every person is right and there is no wrong person, within an individual
there is initial power which encourage them to attain goal. In this process all actions are
conducted with the positive intentions, a person need to always ready for change and challenges
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as well as an individual need to select best options from the available opportunities to them.
There are different types of coaching such as life coaching, business coaching and sport
coaching. At workplace there are numbers of coaching skills needed such as communication
skills, understanding skills, listening skills and many more. Moreover, there are various benefits
or purpose of coaching skills at the workplace of Beauty Lady because in salon industry regular
coaching is essential so that employees conduct their work effectively. From which some of the
major purpose are given below:- Improve communication: Through proper coaching staffs feel motivated as well as
encouraged which directly lead to effective communication at workplace among
employers, employees and customers. In respect of Beauty Lady while processing
coaching they able to improve communication at workplace that leads to increase in
staffs motivations. Along with this, through this superior or management also able to
understand issues which are faced by employees while providing services to customers. Enhance productivity: By conducting effective coaching at workplace employees able to
enhance their skills as well as abilities which help them in conducting their work in
effective as well as effectual manner (Definition of coaching in 2018. Who is the coach
and how he works nowadays, 2019). In respect of Beauty lady, by adopting proper
coaching skill they able to increase their staff productivity because it lead to enhancement
in their work quality as well as it will also help them in minimising wastage of products
and time. Increase employees commitment and loyalty: It is one of the main purpose of providing
coaching at workplace as that will help in enhancing employees commitment as well as
loyalty towards their workplace. In respect of Beauty Lady, they are operating at Salon
industry and in this sector employees loyalty are low but by providing them coaching
process respective salon can provide learning opportunities to staffs. Through which
staffs can develop bright careers so coaching skill also help in enhancing employees
commitment and loyalty.
 Minimise levels of stress and tension: By adopting effective coaching process a
company management may minimise their stress as well as tension level because through
respective process employees feel connected towards workplace (Dent and Brent, 2015).
In respect of Beauty Lady by adopting coaching procedure they able to minimise their
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stress as well as tension level. This is so because employees are conducting their work in
appropriate manner.
Mentoring is considered as a process which include especially selected as well as trained
person in order to provide guidance, regular support and pragmatic advice so that learner able to
learn as well as develop their skills, abilities and capabilities. At workplace it is seems as a
method in which manager or superior help their subordinate in acquiring skills as well as
knowledge so that they accomplish work effective that leads to attainment of desire goal.
Mentoring process is conducted by mentors who perform several activities such as help in right
direction, provide information related to corporate culture, advice or drawing self development
activities (Eisen and et. al., 2014).
They also guide staffs on how to use knowledge and skills in proper way so that it can be
accomplish in effective manner. there are numbers of skills which are required to be a effective
mentor such as communication, understanding, listening, building trust, inspiring, encouraging
and many more. In respect of Beauty Lady, for them mentoring is essential because through that
staffs able to learn how to conduct things in effective manners so that they able to provide
quality services with minimum wastage as well as time. There are various purpose of conducting
mentoring at the workplace, from which some are given below in respect of Beauty Lady:- Develop better career paths for employees: By providing proper mentoring a company
able to develop effective career paths for their employees that will also leads to
enhancement in their loyalty. In respect of Beauty Lady, by providing mentoring
activities at their workplace they able to enhance their employees skills, abilities and
capabilities which directly lead to development of better career path. Through this they
also able to enhance loyalty level of employees towards the workplace which increase
their performance quality. Motivate employees: If a person get proper mentoring of how to do particular work in
effective manner they feel motivated and encouraged. This will also help in enhancing
staffs performance by motivating them as well as it will also minimise wastage of time
and resources (The Advantages of Mentoring in the Workplace, 2020). In respect of
Beauty Lady, by providing mentoring activities on regular basis they able to motivate
their staffs which directly lead to enhancement of performance as well as minimising of
wastage of resources or products and timing.
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 Reduce anxiety and stress: It is seems as less measurable but it is still important to adopt
mentoring procedure at the workplace. This is so because when a person get proper
mentoring of their superior they able to accomplish work effectively with minimum
wastage. But when a person not get proper mentoring then they not able to conduct work
effective as well as it will also increase wastage of resources, this will directly linked
with increase in stress and anxiety (Fletcher and Mullen, 2012). In respect of Beauty
Lady, by providing regular and proper mentoring activities they able to provide quality
services to their customers which leads to attain of desire target effectively. Along with
this, through this they also able to minimise stress and anxiety which may arise due to
improper conducting of services.
In addition to this there is difference between coaching and mentoring activities which
are conducted by a company, below some of them are given below:-
Basis Coaching Mentoring
Meaning
Coaching can be defined as an
activity where an individual is
supervised by a person who is
superior to that individual in
order to improve his
capabilities.
Mentoring refers to the process
of advising an individual
where a fresher is provided
with guidance and support
from a person who is superior
to him.
Emphasis
During coaching, the main
emphasis is laid upon the
performance of the individual
which helps him/her in
identifying their strengths and
weaknesses. The process of
coaching is mainly focussed
towards improving the
individual's performance while
he is on the job (Garvey and
et. al., 2017).
Whereas primary emphasis is
kept on the career of the
fresher. Also, mentoring is all
about the general development
of the fresher which help
him/her in enhancing their
productivity, self-esteem and
overall well being. Through
the process of mentoring, a
fresher is able to develop skills
and learn various techniques
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that will be helpful for him in
his future endeavours.
Time Horizon
Coaching is a short-term
process as it involves less
time. The relationship of the
coach as well as the individual
is for a short duration of time
and there is a particular
outcome in mind behind this.
On the other hand, mentoring
is a long-term process. The
relationship of the mentor and
the mentee can last up to either
one or two years since the
process in more focussed on
the overall development of the
person.
Objective
The main objective of the
process of coaching is to
evaluate the performance of
the employees and improve the
same.
Primary objective of
mentoring is to help the
employee who has joined in as
a fresher to attain effectiveness
in his/her work (Ghods and
Boyce, 2013).
Position in the organisation
The superior who coaches the
individual is either a
professional coach, a manager
or a peer who is senior to the
individual.
A mentor is an experienced
person/ peer to the mentee and
has travelled the same path
previously.
Activities
Coaching involves a wide
range of activities like
motivating the individual by
goals, listening, seminars,
workshops etc. (Huggins,
2016).
Whereas mentoring involves
the senior providing training to
the fresher n the job itself.
The coach uses the strategy of
asking questions that are
though provoking which in
On the other hand, mentoring
involves the mentee asking
several questions in order to
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Questioning
turn assist the individual in
making important decisions,
recognise any changes in
behaviour and thus take action
against the same.
increase his knowledge on a
specific topic.
Efficiency and Development
The primary purpose of the
process of coaching is the
overall improvement of the
individual's development and
personal efficiency (Jones,
2012). Once the coach thinks
that the individual has
acquired relevant knowledge,
the process is considered to be
complete by him. Thus, the
main focus is on the issues at
work.
Whereas, he process of
mentoring is aimed towards
the continuous development
which can be useful not only in
present but future as well.
Thus, the mentor provides
feedbacks and in regular
intervals of time in order to
bring about constant
development in the person
overtime. The main focus is on
the career of the person.
Structures of interaction
Coaching does not need a step
by step approach and thus can
be executed at any point of
time. Corporate sessions are an
exception wherein the analysis
of various fields of
competencies of all the
individuals and the various
ways of achieving them is
necessary.
Whereas, mentoring is a
structured process and step-by-
step process. This enables the
people to get to know each
other n a better manner and
various ways of achieving
goals and objectives (Koh and
et. al., 2014).
The process of coaching is
primarily aimed towards
achieving certain goals and
On the other hand, human
relations are at the heart of the
process of mentoring and thus
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Building Interrelations
objectives and in order to
achieve them, a coach is
required who knows how to
manage such aims and deliver
effective output (Le and
McClelland, 2017). The
relationship between coach
and the individual generally
has a set duration.
requires the application of
certain skills to build trust
relations among the mentor as
well as the mentee. Thus, the
relationship between a mentor
and a mentee can last for a
long period of time.
Agenda
The agenda of the coaching
process is focussed on
achieving particular and
immediate goals.
Whereas in the process of
mentoring, the agenda is set by
the mentee himself and the
mentor provides the relevant
guidance and support in order
to prepare him for his future
roles and responsibilities.
b) Using a defined model of coaching or mentoring, critically evaluate its benefits for developing
individuals' workplace effectiveness.
In a company it is essential for management to conduct coaching or mentoring activities
because through it they able to enhance skills, abilities and knowledge of their staffs which help
in attaining goal as well as objective. There are various model which can be adopted by an
organisation management in order to implement coaching and mentoring at the workplace.
Model which is effective for Beauty Lady is GROW, that is explain below:-
GROW model
This model is developed by Graham Alexander, Alan Fine and Sir John Whitmore in
1980. Respective model provide proper blueprint of conducting training as well as development
programs through coaching or mentoring activities at the workplace (Linder, 2014). This model
have four factors i.e. G- goal, R- Current reality, O- Options or obstacles and W- Will.
Explanation of these in respect of Beauty Lady is given below:-
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 Goal: At this stage coach or mentor of Beauty Lady will establish goal which they want
to attain in upcoming time. It is essential for them to develop goal as a SMART objective
which mean an objective must be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time
bound. through this respective salon management able to develop proper strategies as
well as action plan accordingly which they can attain their desire goal or target. In this
they also need to analyse some factors such as how team members can attain objective,
issues and problems which may arise, did goal fit to career objective of staffs and many
more. Current Reality: At next stage examination of current reality will be done in which team
members or staffs of respective salon will ask to describe their current duties and
responsibilities (MacLennan, 2017). It is so because through that mentor or coach able to
develop strategies related to delegation of work accordingly. In this they also need to
evaluate several factors such as what can be result, what is happening, how to get ready
for implementing work and many more. Options or Obstacles: Third phase is related to exploring options so that management
able to adopt quality option. In this they also need to determine future possibility for
reaching to the objective. In this all team members should conduct brainstorming so that
they can find best option for attaining desire goal or target. In this they must analyse
several questions such as what else we can do, what change can adopt, factors that should
be consider, obstacles which may arise and many more. This is so because accordingly
mentor or coach can develop strategies as well as action plan which lead to attainment of
goal.
 Will: This is a last stage of GROW model of coaching or mentoring in which
establishment of will is done by examining current reality as well as exploring various
options (McCarthy and Milner, 2013). In this coach or mentor need to analyse various
questions such as what will happen now, what else can do, how to motivate yourself,
steps for moving forward, how to adopt daily, weekly and monthly reviews method and
many more.
This is the main model which is adopted by almost every company in order to implement
activities which help in conducting effective coaching and mentoring activities at the workplace.
Along with this, there are numbers of benefits which are gain by a company when they adopt
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activities which are beneficial for developing individuals' workplace effectiveness. Some of the
major benefits which are gain by Beauty Lady are given below when they implement coaching
or mentoring activities related to employees benefits:- Improve employees performance: By providing effective coaching and mentoring
activities Beauty Lady able to enhance skills, abilities and capabilities of their staffs
(Neupane, 2015). Through this their employees will conduct each and every work in
effective manner as well as that will also help them in enhancing their work performance
by minimising wastage of resources and time. It will also lead to satisfaction level
customers who visited to salon because they get quality services. Enhance employees satisfaction and morale: When a person get training and mentoring
on regular basis they feel motivated as well as encouraged which lead to accomplishment
of work effectively (Rhodes and Fletcher, 2013). So when respective salon provide
quality mentoring as well as coaching facilities they able to increase staffs moral and
satisfaction which leads to providing quality services to customers. Addressing weaknesses: By conducting activities related to employees development a
person able to address their weaknesses that will also help them in improving their work
quality. This is so because training, coaching and mentoring help a person in enhancing
their skills, abilities and capabilities which help in conducting work effectively that lead
to attainment of desire goal. Enhance innovation through new strategies and products: If a company staffs will be
skilled and capable then it will be huge opportunity for management that they can adopt
new as well as innovative technology or strategies at their workplace (Rogers, 2012). In
respect of Beauty Lady, by adopting activities related to employees development they
able to adopt new technology and strategies in order to provide more attractive as well as
innovate salon services to customers.
 Minimise employees turnover: If a company provide quality employees development
programmes then employees feel connected as well as connected towards the workplace.
In respect of Beauty Lady, in salon business employees turnover is high which impact so
when they provide employees engagement facilities they able to encourage them which
help them in minimising employees turnover.
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These are the main benefits which Beauty Lady may gain by implementing activities for
developing employees workplace effectiveness through mentoring as well as coaching activities.
c) Critically explore the knowledge, skills and attitude and behaviours needed by an effective
workplace coach or mentor.
It is very important for respective company to analyse as well as explore the knowledge,
skills, behaviours as well as attitude that is required for effective and efficient functioning of
organisation (Singh and et. al., 2015). This is very helpful understanding the appropriate skills
that is required by organisation for performing task and business activities in correct manner.
There are different ways that could be used by Beauty lady salon for enhancing skills as well as
capabilities of employees (Tee, 2012). This will lead to achievement of desired goals and
objectives. It is essential that coach and mentor have appropriate skills, and knowledge as well as
attitude or behaviours which will lead to effective functioning of organisation. An organisation
will be able to effectively perform its tasks and activities when coach and mentors are able to
guide its employees in correct manner. There are various advantages that could be achieved by
respective company by exploring mentors and coaches skills and knowledge.
This will help in performing task and activities in effective manner as well as
accomplishment of desired goals. Attitude, behaviours as well as skill and knowledge play a
crucial role in conducting business activities. It is very important for respective organisation that
mentors and coaches has required capabilities and knowledge so that respective company is
perform business task in effective manner. Knowledge, skills, behaviour and attitude that is
needs for appropriate coach and mentor of workplace is mention below in detail.
Knowledge –
This refers to understanding or information about particular topic that will help in
performing task in effective manner. It is essential that mentors and coach of respective salon
have appropriate knowledge for guiding its employees. Knowledge includes theoretical or
practical understand about a particular topic (Thompson, Wolf and Sabatine, 2012). This will
support mentor and guide to command its employees. This will directly lead to increase in
overall performance of employees as well as conducting task in correct manner. Knowledge is
considered as one of he most important part of a mentor or coach. It will help in performing task
and business activities in correct manner. There are various ways though which mentors can
enhance their knowledge. This is very helpful in solving issues of organisation in effective
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