There are many tools that faculty can use as they navigate their careers in academia. The most commonly used tool within higher education institutions is typically mentoring. During this process, a faculty is often given advice by a more senior colleague on how to successfully navigate their career. On the other end of the spectrum is coaching. The coaching process is underpinned by the belief that the only person who has all the information to make the best decisions is the client themselves.
Instead of giving advice, a coaches acts as a ‘thinking partners’ for faculty. The role of the coach is to ask powerful, thought-provoking questions to help the faculty refine their goals, explore challenges impeding progress, and identify priorities and strategies tailored to their needs to advance their career. Their work is different than mentors since coaches enable clients to find their paths rather than providing solutions or specific advice. Coaches also focus on helping clients in the present rather than understanding the past like therapists. If you are interested in learning more, I would suggest you read this article by Maria LaMonaca Wisdom.