FAQs on Mentorships
Last several posts received few follow up questions. If you have a follow up question, please leave it in comment and I will answer them in this post. Before we get to them, here are all the posts in these series:
Frequently Asked Questions On Mentorship
What should be the format of recurring meetings between mentor and mentee?
Recurring meetings with a mentor are straightforward. After exchanging greetings, the mentee should start with a recap of the last topic discussed and the advice received. They should explain how they applied the advice and what the outcome was—whether they overcame the roadblock or not. Then, they should discuss the next step or the next roadblock to overcome. Make sure to end the meeting by thanking the mentor.
How many mentors should you have at any given time?
While there are many things a mentee might need mentorship on, it's ideal to start with one mentor for first-time mentees. Once you have had several mentorship experiences, then you can have two mentors at a time. It’s important to ensure that these two mentors provide mentorship in completely different areas of life. For example, have one mentor for your professional career and another for a recreational sport. You never want two mentors for the same thing.
Can your manager be your mentor?
No and yes, but mostly no. Especially in the corporate world, the relationship between an employee and a manager has its own unique characteristics. Oftentimes, mentees seek advice on how to deal with situations related to their manager. This results in a conflict of interest. It’s better to have an uninfluenced and unbiased mentoring relationship. My recommendation is to have a mentor outside your department or organizational vertical.
Can every mentor be a coach?
Not every mentor can be a coach, but every coach can be a mentor. Coaching is harder and more ambiguous than mentoring. In my view, it takes years of mentoring before one can become a coach. Even then, coaching is a different skill. You need to have a lot of experience to be a coach, but not necessarily to be a mentor.