Whether you’re working towards chartership or considering your wider career goals, support from an experienced CIOB Member or Fellow can provide the support you need to take the next step. 

CIOB has offered a mentoring service since 2021, enabling members to draw on the experience of professionals who have already completed a similar journey.

The service recently expanded to four programmes:

• Fellowship Mentoring Programme, for Chartered Members or Direct-to-Fellow applicants aspiring to achieve the highest level of CIOB membership
• Chartered Environmentalist Mentoring Programme, for Chartered Members and Fellows with sustainable development experience who wish to complete the Chartered Environmentalist application
• Professional Review Mentoring Programme, which pairs non-chartered members preparing for their Professional Review with Chartered Members and Fellows
• a newly-introduced Early Careers Coaching Programme, which supports eligible members during the first five years of their career after leaving education

Although each of these approaches provide structured professional support, the coaching and mentoring programmes offer different support.

How is coaching different from mentoring?

The main difference is the intended outcome.

CIOB’s mentoring programmes help members work towards a defined professional designation: Chartered Membership, Fellowship or Chartered Environmentalist status. Mentors have completed the relevant process themselves and can use that experience to help mentees understand how they can translate their experience into the format required by the application process.

Coaching has a broader focus. Rather than directing you towards a particular qualification, it supports you in examining your goals, identifying barriers and deciding what actions to take.

A coach will not tell you what to do. Instead, they will use purposeful questions and active listening to help you explore your thinking, understand your strengths and develop your own solutions. It is a structured, non-directive approach intended to encourage meaningful changes in thinking and behaviour.

Is coaching right for me?

The Early Careers Coaching Programme is intended for members on the Self Development pathway, the Structured pathway – Knowledge Development, and Applicant members within the first five years of their career after leaving education.

Coaching may be useful if you want to:

• Achieve a particular professional goal
• Adjust to a new role or additional responsibility
• Manage competing priorities more confidently
• Build your confidence and resilience
• Create a clear and achievable career plan
• Better understand your strengths and motivations
• Navigate challenges in your professional life
• Identify opportunities for further development

CIOB coaches include Chartered Members, Fellows, Retired Members and Retired Fellows. They bring considerable professional experience to the relationship, but their role is to help you reach your own conclusions rather than provide ready-made answers.

The programme works alongside CIOB Stepping Stones, which provides courses to support your professional development. You can also access the CIOB Tomorrow’s Leaders community and its programme of events and resources.

What coaching does not provide 

Understanding the boundaries of coaching will help you decide whether it is the right form of support.

Coaching is not:

• Therapy. It is primarily future-focused and centred on professional goals and development, rather than emotional healing or processing past experiences. If you do need emotional support, help is available through CIOB Assist 
• Problem-solving on your behalf. Your coach will support you in developing your own solutions.
• Skills training. Coaching can help you identify and overcome barriers to development, but it does not teach a specific technical skill.
• Task delegation. Your coach will not undertake your work or responsibilities for you.
• Teaching. You lead the process, while your coach facilitates the conversation through questions and active listening.
• Consulting. A coach does not prescribe solutions or make decisions for you.

Coaching also does not operate as a recruitment or job-finding service. However, it may help you clarify your career direction, recognise your strengths and prepare for future opportunities.

Which option should I choose?

Mentoring is likely to be the best fit if you are eligible to apply for Chartered Membership, Fellowship or Chartered Environmentalist status and want guidance from somebody who understands that particular process.

Early careers coaching may be more appropriate if you are within the eligible stage of your career and want to explore a professional goal, manage a challenge or develop a longer-term career plan.

Whichever route you select, you remain responsible for setting goals, completing actions and making decisions. The mentor or coach provides structure, encouragement and an independent perspective, but progress depends on your active participation.

Sign up for coaching or mentoring

Find out more, and sign up for the coaching or mentoring programmes here.