Any humanitarian worker can benefit as coaching is tailored to each individual’s specific needs. However, if the need is particularly technical (finance, logistics, WASH, FSL, etc.), coaching may not be the best method, as it mainly focuses on « soft skills » (management, leadership, prioritization, communication, stress management, etc.). Moreover, the coachee’s motivation is crucial: coaching cannot be imposed. For efficiency reasons, organizations usually reserve coaching for directors, managers, or supervisors but often make exceptions for positions and individuals with a significant impact on the organization.

I can mentor managerial and directorial positions, particularly « generalist » roles such as Mission Directors or Field Coordinators. Depending on the needs, if they are mainly managerial or organizational, I can also mentor managers or coordinators from all departments. There are dozens of specific skills in humanitarian management, and I don’t master all of them deeply enough to mentor them. So let’s discuss your specific needs!

It depends on the objectives and the time allocated. The price of a coaching session is 120 euros, a mentoring session is 180 euros. A complete 6-7 month program with 12-14 sessions costs 1200 euros.

The « Beneficiary/their Manager/the Coach » triad will jointly validate the objectives to be achieved and the time allocated. Initially, the beneficiary will clarify their environment, situation, and individual functioning with the coach. They will identify bottlenecks, determine their options, set a strategy, and build their action plan. Throughout the process, the beneficiary will take steps to gradually achieve their objectives. Additionally, targeted training or mentoring sessions can be organized to overcome certain obstacles or accelerate the beneficiary’s progress. By the action plan stage, the coachee has usually already achieved most of their objectives.

It all depends on the objectives. For a simple « know-how » goal, one session may sometimes suffice. For deeper work, a « coaching » approach, and multiple and complex objectives in the « know-how to be, » the process takes about 6 months. Sessions last from 1 to 1.5 hours and are spaced 1 to 2 weeks apart. Mentoring is generally shorter and can be implemented more intensively.

Mentoring is a transfer of skills from a more experienced person in a field to another. Coaching is a process that leads the coachee to find their own solutions; there is little or no skill transfer. Unlike standard training, both mentoring and coaching approaches are done directly and practically on the job at hand, not theoretically. The boundary is not always clear, as a good mentor also generally uses some coaching techniques.

Training is a transfer of skills, usually theoretical. Coaching is an « alliance between the coach and the beneficiary in a process that stimulates reflection and creativity to maximize their personal and professional potential » (ICF). Coaching is most often provided individually, and the coach focuses on developing the coachee’s potential and improving their performance by adapting to the difficulties and situations encountered. A wide range of important topics are usually covered during coaching, including time management, planning, leadership, communication, self-confidence, team cohesion, and work-life balance. The beneficiary refines the choice of projects they want to implement, and the coach helps them transform their attitudes and skills if relevant to their success.