Mix in Some Mentoring Magic

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  1

  S.Howard-Sarin

  07/30/08 | Report as spam

  Tried it, didn't like it

  I once worked with an executive I very much admired -- I wanted her career path to be mine. Since she was not in my direct reporting hierarchy, I asked her to meet with me monthly to share advice and answer my questions.
  
  The problem hit about 3 lunches in. She was open to my inquiries but I ran out of things to ask -- I didn't want to get into the day-to-day minutiae, but I didn't know her well enough (it turned out) to get great examples. That mentorship just sort of faded away, and it left a bad taste in my mouth.

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  2

  pesc

  07/31/08 | Report as spam

  RE: Mix in Some Mentoring Magic

  That's too bad SHS.
  so, let me ask you two questions -- first, looking back on it now from your current position, what would you have done different to make it better as that junior person? And, second, why aren't you now helping someone junior to you so that they don't have the same difficulty -- surely someone could benefit from your advice, even if your advice is just the answer to my first question.

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  3

  Ramses the Great

  07/31/08 | Report as spam

  RE: Mix in Some Mentoring Magic

  This is essential to keep a company strong!
  All managers should be involved in the program, it is an obligation for a manager to get the competency to transfer his work knowledge and experiences to the newcomers. I remember when i started my professional life, i worked in a company where all experienced managers had to give training cessions to the young or new comers and participate on the full program. Today, nearly all training is given by outside or internal experts!! This is in my view a mistake!!

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  4

  Michael Fitzgerald

  07/31/08 | Report as spam

  RE: Mix in Some Mentoring Magic

  you did this on your own. there was no formal mentoring structure, the woman in question probably had no idea how to mentor, and may or may not have been a good candidate to be a mentor (not everybody is.
  
  So you didn't really 'try' it, except in the age-old informal sense. That can also work, though in this case it did not.
  
  Michael