The timeless words of Sir Isaac Newton, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants,” encapsulate the critical role that coaches and mentors play in professional and personal development. Individuals who receive mentoring are more confident, express higher career satisfaction, and are more likely to report fruitful and productive careers than those who have received no or poor mentoring (J Gen Intern Med 1992;7:248-51; Pediatr Blood Cancer 2017;64; Acad Radiol 2000;7:717-24;725-6).
Though the terms coaching and mentoring are often used interchangeably, coaching is distinct because it is an immersive, experiential, goal-directed, and time-limited exercise. The protégé identifies a specific, potentially modifiable area of need and works with a coach to improve this area. Coaching helps transform a good skill set into a great skill set. Relatedly, mentoring is a dynamic, dyadic relationship involving a more experienced person and a less...