Project Management

Please login or join to subscribe to this thread

Mentor, Consultant, Coach, Advisor, Trainer what is the difference?

linkedin twitter facebook  
avatar
Farouq Zaabab Researcher, Coach, Trainer, Consultant| Freelancer Sohar, Oman
Do you have geeky friends who ask about subtle distinctions (and wonder if Batman will marry Wonder Woman, I digress!). Well, I have three of them, and their question was if all the terms above are not synonyms, how are they different?
Sort By:
avatar
Anupam India
Coach – helps you to do your job yourself, helps to improve your performance
Consultant – does your job for you
Mentor – shows you how to do your job, as they have done it before
Advisor – gives you advice specific to the problem, job, etc.
Trainer - imparts knowledge & information
avatar
Tamer Zeyad Sadiq Assistant Cost Manager| Turner & Townsend Riyadh, Ar Riyad, Saudi Arabia
I think Kiron Bondale has answer this question!!!! Kiron whare are you?????
avatar
Kiron Bondale Retired | Mentor| Retired Welland, Ontario, Canada
A rose by any other name, I suppose :-)

As the need arises, a good coach will on occasion act like one of the other four.

Advisor is a very generic term and I view that more as a characteristic (e.g. trusted advisor) than an actual role.

Consultant just implies that you are not part of the client's organization.

Trainer can be a very focused role (or job title) or can be an aspect of someone's role.

Someone would not just be a mentor - they likely have a job title and broader role, but will mentor one or more mentees.

Kiron
avatar
Farouq Zaabab Researcher, Coach, Trainer, Consultant| Freelancer Sohar, Oman
Hi Tamer-

As you suggested, Kiron is here to the rescue :)

Kiron-

This makes sense. Do you mind if I quote you/ use this answer in a blog post I'm planning to write?

Thank you
...
1 reply by Tamer Zeyad Sadiq
Aug 12, 2018 2:00 AM
Tamer Zeyad Sadiq
...
Yes!! I told you he is the best one to answer you!!!
avatar
Tamer Zeyad Sadiq Assistant Cost Manager| Turner & Townsend Riyadh, Ar Riyad, Saudi Arabia
Aug 11, 2018 10:54 AM
Replying to Farouq Zaabab
...
Hi Tamer-

As you suggested, Kiron is here to the rescue :)

Kiron-

This makes sense. Do you mind if I quote you/ use this answer in a blog post I'm planning to write?

Thank you
Yes!! I told you he is the best one to answer you!!!
avatar
Kiron Bondale Retired | Mentor| Retired Welland, Ontario, Canada
Go for it, Farouq (and thanks for the vote of confidence, Tamer)!

Please login or join to reply

Content ID:
ADVERTISEMENTS

"I love deadlines. I love the whooshing sound they make as they fly by."

- Douglas Adams

ADVERTISEMENT

Sponsors







Vendor Events

See all Vendor Events

Newsletters

Jun 3: The Career Problem Facing New PMs
May 20: Your PM Career as a Project Life Cycle
May 13: The Big Lie After Layoffs

See all newsletters