Notes for Presentation

Date: 03rd August 2024

5. The Many Faces of Mentors

5.1 The Mentor Boss

Mentoring relationships with your boss might be complicated

Problem: you find it hard to entirely be honest with your boss about troubling issues

Solution: having the right personality mix and a range of opportunities

having a boss as a mentor can give advantage:

●​ she/he supports your projects

Your boss as a mentor is a great chance for your growth. Talk about your career goals, ask for
feedback to improve your work, and learn from their experience. Keep communication open,
ask for advice, and pick up leadership skills from them. It's a valuable opportunity for
learning and advancing in your career

5.2 Formal Mentoring Programs

5.3 Multiple Mentors

The More Mentors the Merrier means something is more fun with more mentors. You have
more guidance from people who are wiser and more experienced.

●​ Assemble Your Personal Advisory Board

In a sense, having multiple mentors is like assembling your personal advisory board. You
want to make sure all aspects of your life are well represented on the board, so your bottom
line isn’t the only matter you’re being advised on. Too great a focus on solely the professional
can lead you to seek advice on what feels like an imbalanced life—your personal life matters
just as much as your current profession.

If you have multiple mentors, especially if you have a blend of those you know from inside
and outside of a professional environment, you can seek a sounding board in your mentor for
problems extending beyond the workplace. This way you can ensure that the steps you make
are in your best interest.

2. Receive Well-Rounded Feedback

By having multiple mentors and being able to receive advice on all aspects of your life, you
can feel confident that your decisions weren’t made in a bubble, so they ultimately provide
you with the most advantageous next steps to take.
Similar to collaboration in the workplace, by bringing several unique opinions together on
one matter, you ensure you’re hearing about potential issues you may not have considered
and are introduced to unique perspectives that help you make the best decisions for you and
your end goals.

3. Get the Help You Need When You Need It

Even if you have an easily accessible mentor, there may come a point when your mentor isn’t
able to provide you advice in the instance you need it. Don’t panic—that’s one of the key
benefits of having multiple mentors you trust and whose feedback you value.

If you can’t get a hold of your first choice for feedback at the moment, you always have
additional resources to reach out to for support.

4. Increase Your Network, Increase Your Opportunities

Not only does having more than one mentor mean you’ve gained access to them as a
connection, you gain access to their professional network as well. They can observe
opportunities that might be a good fit for you and put you in touch with their colleagues,
potentially leading to future opportunities and new professional relationships.

Similarly, if they participate in a professional event or gathering, they can easily invite you
along to advance your professional development, which also helps connect you to others. In
short, the more people you have looking out for you, the better!

5.4 Peer Mentoring.

1. Focus on relationship

Mentorships need to be built on trust and respect, which is even more crucial in a peer
mentoring setting. As a mentor, offer support rather than direction. You want your coworker
to develop their own skills and capabilities rather than just follow you. Share some of your
weaknesses as well as strengths. Being human will help you build a connection.

2. Meet consistently and follow up

Set up a meeting schedule that works for you both and stick to it. It’s easy to begin
mentorships with enthusiasm but then have them fizzle out because you keep rescheduling
meetings. It’s also important to follow up with each other between sessions to build on your
connection.

3. Share goals and experiences

4. Hold each other accountable

It’s important that neither of you grows complacent when pursuing your individual goals.
You can avoid this by holding each other accountable and checking on one another’s
progress. A great practice is to take brief notes during your meetings of what to follow up on
so you don’t forget. Hold each other accountable to take notes on areas you both need
accountability on.

5. Coach each other; share what you learn

Peer mentorship can also be like having a good coach. Offer feedback to each other about
meetings, presentations, or negotiations. It can enhance learning. It’s also helpful to share
resources you’ve enjoyed, such as articles, TED talks or books. You can also share tacit
knowledge to help the growth process.

6. Create peer mentoring groups

Consider expanding your peer mentorship to include others and develop peer mentoring
groups. When you do this, you’ll be creating a supportive, encouraging, and coaching culture.

7. Practice active listening

Listening may feel like a passive activity, but it can be one of the most active forms of
communication. Help your mentee to feel understood by hearing what they are saying and
repeating it back to them. This can clarify for both of you the issues or challenges that may
lie underneath. For more on learning well read this article by HBR on what great listeners
actually do.

8. Confidentiality

Don’t be a toxic mentor. Rather, keep things that your mentee shares with you confidential.
Sharing inappropriate or private information about others at your company will reflect poorly
on you and damage your relationship with your mentee.