I wrote a post on my site some time back called “The Art of Feedbacks” (URL: http://lap31.com/flyer/the-art-of-feedbacks/) in which I have classifiedd mentors as the Type-D of feedback-givers. I really think that mentors play an important role in our lives – professional and personal.

My org recently released our new mentorship program and I was surprised to see that I was not assigned a mentor, probably becuase they didnt think I need one. I disagree and so I asked my reporting manager about it and he assigned himself my mentor. Now it is a strange and funny situation when I have to specify in my communication with him that I am talking to him as a mentor and not as my boss. I am not sure if he can in all fairness to mentoring me switch both hats when I ask him to. I do hope so for my benefit. However, this is not optimal mentoring. For those those seeking a mentor professionally, here is my advice: Your mentor and reporting manager should not be the same person if you want to really make it work for you. Good luck!

Final note – pls do read my “The Art of Feedbacks” post and comment. Eager to know what you all have to say.

-Raj

I wrote a post on my site some time back called “The Art of Feedbacks” (URL: http://lap31.com/flyer/the-art-of-feedbacks/) in which I have classifiedd mentors as the Type-D of feedback-givers. I really think that mentors play an important role in our lives – professional and personal.

My org recently released our new mentorship program and I was surprised to see that I was not assigned a mentor, probably becuase they didnt think I need one. I disagree and so I asked my reporting manager about it and he assigned himself my mentor. Now it is a strange and funny situation when I have to specify in my communication with him that I am talking to him as a mentor and not as my boss. I am not sure if he can in all fairness to mentoring me switch both hats when I ask him to. I do hope so for my benefit. However, this is not optimal mentoring. For those those seeking a mentor professionally, here is my advice: Your mentor and reporting manager should not be the same person if you want to really make it work for you. Good luck!

Final note – pls do read my “The Art of Feedbacks” post and comment. Eager to know what you all have to say.

-Raj

Either or both can be priceless.

Duncan

Either or both can be priceless.

Duncan

Coming out and asking “Do you want to mentor me?” would be a red flag for most people…they’d be thinking “Oh geez, I don’t have time for this… I’m busy enough as it is.” You need to be giving as much as you are taking, preferably much more in the beginning.

You could ask them for some examples of documentation and other things they’ve done in the past. Whatever it is, make sure it’s no inconvenience to them, and even a benefit because you are taking some of the grunt work away from them (even if it has nothing to do with what you want to learn).

When you do ask questions, be smart about it. “When you did x, that turned out really well! How did you know to do it that way?” – people like telling their war stories to those who are interested!

Eventually, it is likely they will be impressed by your passion and flattered that you are looking up to them. You need to let them dictate when they are willing to take a more proactive role and mentor you.

Coming out and asking “Do you want to mentor me?” would be a red flag for most people…they’d be thinking “Oh geez, I don’t have time for this… I’m busy enough as it is.” You need to be giving as much as you are taking, preferably much more in the beginning.

You could ask them for some examples of documentation and other things they’ve done in the past. Whatever it is, make sure it’s no inconvenience to them, and even a benefit because you are taking some of the grunt work away from them (even if it has nothing to do with what you want to learn).

When you do ask questions, be smart about it. “When you did x, that turned out really well! How did you know to do it that way?” – people like telling their war stories to those who are interested!

Eventually, it is likely they will be impressed by your passion and flattered that you are looking up to them. You need to let them dictate when they are willing to take a more proactive role and mentor you.