Building an Effective Mentoring Relationship
[Adapted from Power Mentoring by Ensher and Murphy]
Ensher and Murphy, in their study of effective and less effective mentoring relationships, have identified four building blocks to an effective mentoring relationship. They are:
- Positive initial contact and connection
Mentor and mentee saw similarities in each other, and were able to bond over something similar in their backgrounds.
The mentoring relationship became closer as the mentor and mentee did things together and spent time together.
- Growing closeness and connectedness
Mentor and mentee were able to candid in personal disclosure, and felt understood and supported.
A specific event that cemented the trust between mentor and mentee
Ensher and Murphy offer some tips to help forge an effective mentoring relationship:
- Develop an understanding of each other's work environment and issues
- Develop mutual admiration
- Treat each other as confidants and not competitors
- Be open to each other's ideas and influences
- Focus on solvable problems and issues
- Develop a relationship that is meaningful for both
- Consider the importance of gender, race, generational and other dimensions of diversity in the relationship
- Know when to bring others into the mentoring relationship
Each mentoring relationship will be unique. The key is to create a relationship that is mutually beneficial
- both the mentor and mentee gain from one another.
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