By Gina Blitstein

No one can be a success in business alone. It takes many smart and savvy people to guide and challenge you along your path and throughout your life. Where can you find the help you need to drive your career - and you - to attain the success and satisfaction you desire?

There are plenty of resources offering to assist you in your quest for your best career: motivational gurus, consultants, coaches, counselors, mentors... Who's a professional to turn to? Let's focus on two familiar paths to career enhancement: Career Coach and Mentor.

In many respects, these two are quite similar. Both have career advancement as their goal. They are both most often a one-on-one relationship. And while it is true that some mentoring relationships are casual and unstructured, many today are professionally sanctioned, paid positions, as are those of career coaches.

So what are the distinctions between these two similar processes? According to Constance M. Drew, MBA and Business Advisor, the answer is:

Coach. This is the person who helps "me" come to answers, guides me on time management, my cheerleader so to speak. There is an incredible amount of brainstorming that can lead to good ideas, holds me accountable to take positive actions, helps me to determine if I am ready to go into business and what kind. This is more of a personal approach about the individual and how that person manages their life while starting a business. Unless this coach has in-depth experience in business, I would not recommend them as a business consultant/mentor. There are no regulations on coaches and this approach is more the "touchy feely" aspect from what I have seen.

1. Ask yourself what exactly you think you need from a coach. Is it guidance? Defining your passion? Time management?
2. Ask around for referrals. Anyone can become a coach, so as in all industries, vet the person.
3. Request a “Sample Session” or “Free Consultation” with a coach. Ask lots of questions to see how you and this person will be as a team.
4. Do your homework, both looking for a coach and as a client when you find one.
5. Remain flexible. If it isn’t working out, dissolve the relationship and find someone who will work better for you.

Mentor. This is the person who is an expert in some aspect of business. He/She has been through the trenches in starting and running a business and knows how to "guide" those who are seeking their help. This is not about "pulling" the knowledge from the client or holding their hand, it is about guiding them in a more direct path towards success, avoiding the pitfalls that have been discovered in their own businesses. A good business mentor will dramatically reduce the time between startup and incoming revenue stream while driving down operational costs that a new business owner may never even think about.

1. The time to seek a mentor is when you are really serious about business; hungry to make your business a success.
2. Referrals are always the best. Ask your friends and colleagues if they can recommend a good mentor for you.
3. Attend business networking events and begin meeting these mentors in person, read their articles and learn why they can be invaluable to you.
4. Be ready to take risks and let go of control. A mentor will move you faster and have you face challenges head on.
5. Prepare for a long term relationship. As you are building or running a business, to get the value from a mentor entails developing relationships. If you think you only need one for less than 6 months, re-evaluate why. Building business is a process and this is one that shouldn’t be short-changed.

Now that we understand the difference between business coach and mentor, Lauree Ostrofsky, CPC, Communications Consultant & Certified Coach gives us these tips to make the best individual choice:

Choose 3-5 things you want from this expert. For example, to be promoted, to switch industries, to learn a new skill, to be seen as a leader within your organization. Then, put a star next to the one you want the most. Yes, these should be in writing. That way the list can be posted as a visual reminder. Also, the act of writing makes this more of a commitment.

It's easier to determine who fits your requirements by knowing what they are. The list you start out with and the one you end up with by the time you speak to the expert can change drastically. Getting down your thoughts now helps determine what you really want to put your energy towards, so when you begin working together you both are focused on the same thing (and therefore are more successful).

Talk to at least 1 mentor and 1 coach. There are lots of gray areas between mentors and coaches. And while skill sets are important in choosing one professional over another, it really comes down to a personal connection. This is true of relationships, even sales, of any kind.

Take the number one thing that you want, and ask the mentor and coach how they would each help you get it. Pay attention to your gut reaction to what they say. Which one really understands you and your needs? Which one asks the right questions to learn more?

Even if the conversation is just about work, keep in mind that you may share private or personal information with them at some point. Who do you feel the most comfortable and are able to talk openly with?

Be prepared. For this relationship to be fruitful, your participation is mandatory. What you bring to it -- those 3-5 bullets for instance and a main goal for your time together -- will go a long way. There may be homework, things for you to consider or activities to try in between meetings. There may also be challenges to the way you think about things, especially how you see yourself. All of this is in effort to get the goal you have mutually agreed on at the start of your work together.

As you can see, it's not a cut-and-dried situation. The solution to finding the right help is defining your needs and then seeking out the proper person to provide you guidance. Expecting results from someone without the qualifications, experience or resources to get you there is a recipe for disappointment. As the professionals advise, find the right person for the job and you'll attain your goal.

Do you need the help or a business coach or a mentor to help you advance in your career?

Edited: 01/12/2010 at 01:48 PM by Gina