The Five Lanes of Leadership
Written by Tyler Head
On paper, it’s easy to draw clear lines between coaching, mentoring, teaching, training, and advising. But real life? It’s messier. These lanes often overlap. Sometimes they blur. And that’s not just okay—it’s expected.
The point of what follows isn’t to box anyone in. It’s to offer clarity—so that you, a thoughtful, capable leader reading this, can move toward the kind of support that fits your context and your growth, also allowing you to do the same for those nearest you.
You don’t need to “pick a camp.” You just might benefit from identifying what lane you’re in— and whether it’s getting you where you want to go. And by becoming more aware of these differences, you may also better support the people you lead.
Why This Matters:
If leadership is about taking people further than they could—or would—go on their own, then it demands more than just vision or authority. It means wearing different hats, sometimes multiple times a day, depending on who you’re with and what they need.
As a leader, you’re constantly making decisions:
Where should I grow? How should I show up? Who do I bring alongside me—and in what way?
But here’s the challenge: terms like coaching, mentoring, advising, and training get used loosely. When everything starts to sound the same, it’s easy to default to your most familiar lane—whether or not it fits the moment. And when that happens, even well-intentioned support can fall flat.
At Dryve, we believe each of the five lanes—coaching, mentoring, training, teaching, and advising—has real value. Each serves a distinct purpose. Each calls for something different from you. And each can be the right tool—if you’re clear on the context.
We’re here to help you quickly discern what these lanes are, when they work best, and how to choose the right one—not just for yourself, but for the people you lead.
These are not competing approaches. They’re complementary. The key is knowing which lane you’re in—and why.
So Why Do We Lead With Coaching?
We lead with coaching because it meets leaders and companies where they are. First, it beckons them to participate in their growth journey, then it creates space for open reflection, real ownership, and sustainable growth.
But we don’t stay in coaching lane no matter what. There are moments when a leader says, “I actually just need a gut check.” That’s advising. Or, “Can you show me how you handled this before?” That’s mentoring. Or, “Can you help my managers learn how to give feedback?” That’s training.
We do our best to move between lanes intentionally, not accidentally.
Reflection: Which Lane Might You Need Right Now?
Here are some questions to help you self-assess:
Are you looking for answers- or clarity?
If you want someone to tell you what to do, you may need advising or mentoring.
If you want to uncover your own best path, coaching is likely the better fit.
2. Are you trying to build understanding, or build capability?
If you’re focused on shaping how someone thinks, teaching (with a shift toward coaching) may be helpful.
Training is helpful for building skills—coaching can deepen and sustain those changes.
3. Are you ready to own the solution- or do you need outside input?
Coaching requires engagement. It asks more of you. But it provides an opportunity for you to find clarity that sticks.
Advising may move faster. But it is more about someone else’s expertise.
What’s Next? Tools to Help You Discern:
Choosing the right lane isn’t just about definitions. It’s about context.
Because these choices show up every day—in conversations, meetings, and decisions—we’ve developed a practical tools to help you lead with clarity and intention:
The Delegation Dial:
A quick way to assess when, where, and how to direct, collaborate, or release responsibility—especially in team development moments.
For a deeper yet practical dive into developing a coaching posture—especially in everyday leadership conversations—we recommend The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier. It’s a practical, readable guide to asking better questions, staying curious longer, and building coaching into the fabric of how you lead.
We’re happy to walk through each of those with you. For now, it starts with one simple question:
What modality or mix of modalities could serve you best right now?
