Coaching vs Mentoring: The Leadership Superpower We’re Still Underusing

In this Mentoring May special edition of You Must Be Woking, Dawn and Craig dive into one of the most requested topics from our listeners: the real difference between coaching and mentoring - and why both are becoming essential tools for inclusive, high‑performing organisations.

Drawing on lived experience, global research and years of running coaching and mentoring programmes, they explore:

• The actual difference between coaching and mentoring (and why the language matters)
• Why nearly half of organisations are now investing in coaching and mentoring
• The myths that stop leaders from engaging with coaching
• How empathy, listening and deeper connection unlock performance
• Why coaching accelerates leadership transitions and prevents derailment
• The power of structured mentoring programmes - and the retention impact they can create
• Real‑world examples of coaching and mentoring transforming culture, confidence and capability

You’ll also hear powerful reflections from leaders who’ve experienced coaching first‑hand - including how it helped them move from good instincts to strategic instincts, and from navigating complexity to mastering it.

Whether you’re a leader, a mentor, a coach, or someone stepping into something new, this episode will reshape how you think about growth, performance and inclusive leadership.