Coaching and Mentoring Skills for Success

Task: Assessment is by one assignment, a critical essay of 5000 words (100%) which integrates theory and practice. The assignment must include a clear structure with an abstract, a list of references and, where appropriate, appendices and diagrams. You must make appropriate use of journal articles and texts. References should follow the Harvard system see YSJ Harvard at

The assignment is in two parts. The first part looks at the world and purpose of coaching and/or mentoring for an individual and the second part relates to you own experience as a coach/mentor. Both parts are expected to have an academic underpinning.

Part1:

With a firm underpinning of academic literature to support your arguments, critically discuss the value of coaching and/or mentoring to the individual. It is expected that this section will start with a brief discussion about the definition and meaning of coaching and/or mentoring. (2,000 words)

Part2:

Provide a 30 minute video/audio recording of your own practice as a coach/mentor, with accompanying written reflection on your own development as a coach/mentor using examples from this and other moments of your own practice. The reflection should be underpinned with a range of literature including that around coaching skills development and techniques. (3000 words + recording)

To preserve confidentiality, please anonymise any organisation or organisations you discuss in the assignment, eg by calling them Company X, or Governmental Organisation Y, or International Organisation Z. Similarly, where you write about private individuals, call them manager A, or leader B.

N.B. The word count will include quotations but exclude footnotes, list of references, appendices, tables and graphs. Appendices will not count against the word limit but should not contain large amounts of text. (It will be expected that they will normally contain diagrams or tables or visual images). Appendices should not contain material that is essential to meeting the assignment brief. If you exceed the wordcount by more than 10%, you will be penalised.

See the final page of the module Handbook for assessment criteria (under Main tab of the module).

You are encouraged to proof read your work thoroughly before submission. You may ask others to proof read your work on your behalf for matters of punctuation, grammar and spelling, but UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should they comment on the subject content of your work. While errors may be highlighted for your attention, edits and corrections must be your own. You are reminded that any work submitted should be yours and yours alone. If the paper has been proof read (especially it that involved correcting the English) this must be stated on the cover of the paper and a copy of the original, pre-correction, paper retained for possible review by the University.

The regulations on Academic Misconduct (including cheating and plagiarism) can be viewed here:

This task has a weight of 100% and the deadline to complete is 05 May 2026, 12:00.