Looking back through my archives, I rediscovered a piece I wrote on the concept that most mentoring programs are really coaching programs. The piece by Rebecca Ryan I link to is no longer available, even on her updated site but the longer article on the difference between mentoring and coaching still is active.
From that post:
Coaching essentially consists of helping someone fulfill their function for the company whereas mentoring is more of a customize relationship aimed at growing the person.
In Ryan’s view, most mentoring programs are essentially buddy programs. Whereas:
“True Mentoring occurs when an elder’s intention is to entrust another with the welfare of her or his estate (or something similarly significant.) In business, this means that one generation of leaders takes the next generation under its wing and over time, teaches them everything they know….So you see, Mentoring is intended to occur alongside a transfer of responsibility. Most Mentoring programs have no such intention.”
The problem she feels lies in the fact that companies try to use mentoring to fill in gaps but don’t commit to designing and implementing the program resulting in low retention and burn out.
So as we move into the new year, if you are mentoring someone or are considering doing so, think about what results are are intending to achieve.