Coaching & Mentoring For Dummies, 2nd Edition

Chapter 18

Mastering Mentoring

IN THIS CHAPTER

Defining mentoring and why it matters

Avoiding actions that create employee dependency and stifle initiative

Exploring tools of mentoring that challenge employees to think and do for themselves

Influencing employee commitment through mentoring

How often have you heard that employees are desperate to find a mentor? Or your organization’s management has instructed you to be more of a mentor? What does it mean to mentor and how is it different from coaching and tutoring?

This chapter explores the concept of mentoring, how it’s different from coaching, why it’s important, what the pitfalls are, how as a manager you can mentor employees, and what two tools you can use for engaging employees.

Chapter 19 expands on the concept of mentors to include other people who can help support the employee in addition to you, their manager. Because the needs of each employee is different, mentorship can also look different.

Understanding How Coaching Differs from Mentoring

You may have been told you need to be a mentor to younger employees, but you ...