They further liken the activities of professional coaching to contemporary practices of HRD, noting that the approaches of both are strikingly similar (i.e., learner centered, experiential,
self-directed). It is important, however, to differentiate coaching from mentoring, a term it is often used in combination with. Coaching involves practical, goal-focused, one-on-one support. Mentoring is typically a committed long-term relationship in which a senior person supports the personal and professional development of a junior colleague (Hernez-Broome & Hughes,
2004).