What is Coaching and Mentoring for Physiotherapists?
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Coaching and Mentoring can help a learner to overcome a problem. Some might say coaching and mentoring are two sides of the same coin, both helping the learner to achieve their goal. The difference is the journey to the achievement of the goal.
In Physiotherapy, you may experience Coaching and Mentoring in the form of supervision sessions with your colleagues. You may or may not have a supervision structure established through your workplace. If you work as a self-employed Physiotherapist you may not have experienced supervision through Coaching and Mentoring in a formal way.
Take a look at my blog post to give you a brief insight into WHAT Coaching and Mentoring is, HOW it is used within Physiotherapy and WHY you should have a Coach or Mentor as part of your continuing professional development.
What is Coaching and Mentoring for Physiotherapists?
1. Similarities between Coaching and Mentoring
2. Differences between Coaching and Mentoring
3. How is Coaching and Mentoring used in Physiotherapy?
4. Why should I have a Coach or Mentor?
5. Want to learn more?
1. Similarities between Coaching and Mentoring
Goals
Both Coaching and Mentoring assist the learner in achieving a specific goal.
For example: To work out how to manage a specific problem you have in treating a patient.
Time and Place
Both Coaching and Mentoring usually have a designated time set aside for both the Coach/Mentor and Coachee/Mentee to meet and work towards the goal.
For example: Weekly on Wednesdays at 2pm, in the admin office with a cup of tea.
Documentation
The session is usually documented and the outcomes and action plans are agreed upon.
For example: Mentee will carry out a SWOT analysis by next meeting on Communication with patients.
Length of Relationship
The length of the Coach-Coachee/Mentor-Mentee relationship can vary. It can be on a short term or long term basis.
For Example: To work through a specific short term goal such as a job interview. Or for a longer term such as caseload management during a six month rotation or non rotational job role.
2. Differences between Coaching and Mentoring
Method
Mentoring supports a learner in the form of a directive approach. The Mentor uses advice, guidance and feedback from watched or discussed behaviours inside and outside the Mentoring session.
For Example: You should treat your patient with these techniques.
Coaching supports a learner in the form of a non-directive approach. The Coach uses active listening, paraphrasing and questioning to gain information.
For Example: You have treated your patient with techniques A, B and C, what else could you do?
Situational Knowledge
A Mentor will have experienced your situation currently or in the past. They will have likely walked your path before and be able to give direct advice about your current situation.
For Example: To solve the problem of not enough follow up appointments to book in your patients, you need to speak to your line manager and ask them to reduce your new patient allocation.
A Coach does not have to have had the same experience or job role as the learner in order to support them.
For Example: You have highlighted that your problem is that you don’t have enough follow up appointments to book your patients in to. What options do you have that could make more appointments available to you?
Problem Solver
Mentees tend to come to the Mentor with problems to be solved whereas Coaches facilitate the Coachee to solve their own problems. (The previous example also demonstrates this point)
3. How is Coaching and Mentoring used in Physiotherapy?
Coaching and Mentoring within Physiotherapy is not so clear cut between the two styles. Within one supervision session you may swing from a Mentoring style to a Coaching style depending on the topics that are being discussed.
There will be times where direction is needed to navigate a time sensitive or emergency situation and there will be times where questioning and challenge with develop a learner’s critical thinking.
There is a time and place for each style and it is about selecting the most appropriate strategy for the person, situation and goal.
In an emergency situation, a directional approach may be best making time for reflection afterwards.
Whereas discussing examples for a learner for their upcoming interview would benefit from a non-directive approach. This will encourage the learners' own thoughts and critical reflection.
Or, a learner may think of all the treatment options available using a Coaching approach and does not have the knowledge to complete the goal. In this instance, a mentoring approach could be taken to pass on the techniques required to fill the gap in knowledge.
These examples demonstrate the Coaching and Mentoring Continuum best described by Carol Wilson.
4. Why should I have a Coach or Mentor?
There are many reasons why you should seek out a Coach or Mentor for your personal, professional and clinical development.
“80% of people who receive coaching report increased self-confidence, and over 70% benefit from improved work performance, relationships, and more effective communication skills. 86% of companies report that they recouped their investment on coaching and more (source: ICF 2009).”
Click 👉 for IOC Article and ICF Report.
The HCPC reports Supervision: (👈click for HCPC article)
Is most effective when supervisees choose their supervisor
Can be delivered in multiple forms - group, peer, one to one or virtual.
Can be focused on caseload management, joint sessions, well being, job planning or debriefing
Is most effective at weekly or two weekly intervals
Notes should be taken by the Supervisees and a detailed record should be signed and agreed.
The CSP reports: (👈click for CSP article)
Time for supervision should be protected
Clinical supervision should support learning and clinical reasoning
Clinical supervision should be delivered by someone within the profession with the appropriate Scope of practice
Professional and personal development supervision can be delivered by someone outside of the profession.
5. Want to learn more?
This blog post scratches the surface of what there is to know and understand about the power of Coaching and Mentoring for Physiotherapists.
A key takeaway is that as a Physiotherapist you are responsible for your own learning and finding the appropriate people to support your professional and clinical development.
If you want to keep learning about ways to improve both your personal and professional development join me in The Email Club.
In The Email Club you will receive my insights, tips and advice into your inbox twice a month. This includes self development tools to recommendations of courses and resources delivered by top clinicians to help you with your clinical development.
By joining The Email Club you will also get exclusive access to a peer support group with like minded Physiotherapists who are waiting for you to join.
What are you waiting for?
About the Blogger:
Hi, I’m Rebekah.
I’m a Physiotherapist with a passion to support others to get to where they want to be. I love to organise and plan which, comes in handy for my mission to empower others to achieve their Physiotherapy career goals.
