Coaching v Mentoring v Leading

Coaching: 

Helping another person or team or group to attain higher performance or arrive at a solution. The coach will engage the coached in a process that helps them discover and arrive at their own solution. The coach may or may not have actual expertise in the area, it's the disciplined process that the coach brings to the table. A big aspect of coaching is that the coached gives the coach permission to coach them. The coach is a "servant" to the coached. The coached chooses their coach. 


Mentoring: 

This is where one party, who has some mastery or skill or experience, helps another party acquire these skills and experience. Normally this is done in a one on one situation and using informal means of teaching for example pairing and peer reviewing and general communication during day to day work. The mentor pushes their knowledge on the mentored. Often the mentor is assigned; the mentored has no choice in the matter. 


Leading:

When a person engages, convinces and motivates others to follow them. It is a factor of Vision, Trust and Respect. Vision: where we will get to? The vision attracts people to engage. Trust: People don't have to be micro-managed or instructed how to attain the vision. Respect: people are empowered to do what it takes to realize the vision. Leading should be a push relationship, but the leader needs to create the environment where followers are willing recipients. There are many bosses and managers who are not leaders. They have employees, not followers.