The following are all examples of behaviours by mentees gathered over many workshops, where participants in mentoring have shared their best and worst experiences. These below are the top ten worst. As a mentee ask yourself: Could I be guilty of any of these?
- Bring to the first formal meeting a long shopping list of things you want the mentor to do for you.
- Expect the mentor to be available for you whenever you want them.
- Regard the mentor as your prime source of gossip to pass on.
- Expect the mentor to always have the answer – that’s why they are more senior.
- Expect the mentor to decide when to meet and what to talk about.
- Boast about the relationship to your colleagues at every opportunity.
- Never challenge what the mentor says – s/he is paid to know best.
- Blame the mentor whenever advice doesn’t work out – s/he should have known better.
- Treat mentoring sessions as mobile – the easiest item in the diary to move at the last minute.
- Enjoy the opportunity to have a good moan or whinge whenever you meet – especially if no-one else will listen to you.
- Make it clear to the mentor that you want to be just like them – adopt their style of speaking, dress, and posture.
- Never commit to doing anything as a result of the mentoring session. If, by accident, you do, simply forget to follow the commitment up. (Why spoil the fun of discussion with outcomes?)
Copyright – David Clutterbuck