Managing Diversity

senior executive at a manufacturing plant. He is mentoring a

female African American middle manager who is struggling

in her management of an assembly line composed primarily

of white males. As her mentor, he may be able to help her

deal with employees’ resistance to her ideas by sharing some

of his own experiences with leading change.

• Mentors with similar backgrounds. Matching mentors with

protégés from the same groups can offer unique benefits as

well, such as enabling protégés to feel a greater sense of ca-

maraderie and support. If it’s impossible to find the ideal

match for a particular employee, try to identify mentors

who understand and appreciate ...