The words “training” and “coaching” may appear deceptively similar, as they give the indication of teaching someone something. In other words, the main factor they are similar is that both coaching and training share the common goal in regards to developing, mentoring, teaching, learning, and improving a certain area. However, there is a big difference between both of them, which is why you need to identify your goals first before aligning in any approach to see which of them is suitable for your needs and goals.
• Defining coaching:
Coaching mainly focuses on individual goals and is one-to-one. It depends on improving the individual through concentrating just on his limitations, strengths, weaknesses, and all about this specific person, that is why it is unique for each one of the participants. It identifies which area needs improvement so that the coach ensures consistent understanding
• Defining training:
Training provides all participants with the same experience and is not focused on one individual. It is designed and specifically implemented for a group, as it takes more of a comprehensive approach. It does not identify a certain issue; it tackles a topic for everyone like teaching a certain skill so they learn how to do it, not pinpointing individual issues.
To illustrate the contrast further, training is like a teacher in a school class who is giving a lecture about a certain topic to a bunch of students. Unlike coaching, coaching is when a private teacher teaches a student a certain subject because the student is not good at that subject and always gets low grades in it.
• Training & coaching in management consulting companies:
Several management consulting companies like Horae, provide both coaching and training services. Like providing sales training services for our client’s sales team that would help in improving the company’s revenue and the effectiveness of the company’s general performance. Through structured training settings along with strategic tactics, enhancing efficiency, improving skills, and teamwork are guaranteed so that they can reach a higher potential. Also, using customized methods would develop abilities to reach successful results and to ensure a high-quality understanding of the skills necessary for success as well.
In conclusion, recognizing these distinctions between training and coaching will serve the participant in choosing the adequate approach that meets their needs. The applications and methodologies of both approaches are significantly unsimilar.