There are a few problems that you might have encountered if you have ever tried to find a mentor. One is that they aren’t very respectable. Another is that they don’t have long-term relationships or are unwilling to share their expertise. There is a fine line between sharing too much and too little. In both cases, the goal should be to share wisdom and guidance. Otherwise, your mentee won’t benefit.
Mentors who are less than respectable
Mentors must have the right mix of tough love and respect. They should be able to give honest feedback without hurting your feelings and should be willing to call BS when they see it. For a relationship to be successful and to grow your professional strength, it is important to strike the right balance. It is rare to find a mentor who is less than respectable, but unfortunately, it happens. Listed below are the characteristics of a good mentor.
The cornerstone of mentoring is mutual respect. Without mutual respect, encounters can become stressful, taxing, and difficult for both parties. It is not enough to show unconditional positive regard. Even though it’s the cornerstone of a healthy mentoring relationship, mentors must also show respect to their mentees. This respect will serve as a social lubricant. Without it, mentoring encounters can quickly become a nightmare.
The importance of confidentiality is also essential. Mentors should never breach the privacy of their mentees. Professionals would never intentionally violate their student’s privacy. Unrespectful mentors should be aware of this and take steps so that it doesn’t happen to a student. It is best to find another mentor if they are not comfortable with this level confidentiality.
A good mentor should be someone who can share their knowledge without being manipulative or complaining. They must be punctual, communicate well, and have excellent communication skills. They should be able to get along with many people. This doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t say anything negative about the status quo. However, it does mean they are respectful in their actions. If a mentor lacks these qualities, the relationship may become unproductive.
Lack of willingness to share expertise
If you are looking for a mentor, it is essential that you choose one who enjoys sharing their knowledge. A good mentor will be willing to share contacts and critique the way you approach a particular assignment or problem. Mentors should be able to listen and offer clarification when needed. Having a commonality with the mentor’s field of expertise will make the relationship even more valuable.
Lack of long-term relationships
One reason for the lackluster long-term relationships between mentors could be the fact that younger faculty members are less likely than older ones to act as role models. This lack of long-term relationships may stem from the fact that these faculty members have exaggerated senses of importance and narcissistic personality traits. Whether or not this explanation is the cause of the lack of long-term relationships among good mentors remains to be seen.
Research into mentoring relationships has shown that mentoring is not exclusive. Researchers have noted that informal mentoring relationships can include short-term interactions among peers, direct supervisors, and older employees. It is important to find a mentor with the right personality to mentor and to build a relationship between mentors and protégés. Although the lack of long-term relationships among good mentors has been found to be problematic, there is evidence that these relationships can still be beneficial for the careers of both the protege and the mentor.