Sara Orellana
By Sara Orellana
Working with mentors and coaches has positively impacted and certainly changed the trajectory of my career and personal growth over the years.
As people who will share their experiences and guide you along, mentors never tell you what to do, rather, they ask clarifying questions to help you see a different perspective. If they have been in a similar situation, they may share that information with you, but, ultimately, you are the decisionmaker and the Captain of your Fate.
A coach will ask questions designed to make you think about your situation differently with the hope that by seeing things from multiple perspectives, you will find a solution on your own. Coaches typically do not share personal experiences with you, but teach you new skills and hold you accountable.
Choosing to work with a mentor or coach depends on where you are in your journey, what you are looking for, and the goals you want to achieve. Before deciding to work with either a mentor or coach, answer yourself the following questions:
• What do you want to gain through the experience?
• Are you looking for instructions, learning from someone’s experiences, or do you want to find answers from within yourself?
• Are you more comfortable listening to someone or being vulnerable? Working with a coach requires you to be extremely vulnerable and willing to accept that some of your thoughts are wrong. (A coach will never tell you you’re wrong; they will simply challenge you to think differently.)
• Do you want to reflect and converse on situations after your session?
• During a period of growth, with which are you comfortable: a more professional/clinical relationship or a more personal environment?
It is strongly recommended that you work with both mentors and coaches throughout your career, because at certain times you will want one more than the other.
For me, during a stage of personal growth, I prefer to work with a coach. Learning to think differently and understand that I am able to solve problems, I simply needed to learn different perspectives, is important.
At times I also appreciate the more clinical setting because it allowed me to be vulnerable, accountable and not wallow in indecisiveness.
When building a support network, try to find two or three mentors -- trusted individuals from whom you can learn and grow, yet not be vulnerable with them.
Look at where you are in your career and ask yourself where you want to go. Then reflect on your answers. They will point you towards a mentor or coach. Be brave and take the first step. You will love the results.
Navigating the countless mentorship and coaching resources out there can be daunting. If you need guidance, email me. I’ll gladly help you get to the next step.
Sara Orellana, MS, MPH is an independent entrepreneur who specializes in strategic planning, leadership, and grant writing. She can be reached at sara@3raptorconsulting.com.