Enter, stage right, Alan — our star protégé. Alan, whom we've coached, is a vice-president at a private equity firm and on track to become a managing director. Unfortunately, his longtime mentor, Roger, has become a potential derailer in the process. You see, Roger rubs many of the other MDs the wrong way and is considered somewhat of a rogue partner. Regrettably for Alan, the partners worry that he has become a Roger "mini-me." And, who wants two rogue partners running around the firm?
While you may not be in Alan's exact situation, perhaps you realize that your mentoring relationship is not what it used to be. Is your mentor relationship in need of an overhaul? Here are three ways to help kick-start the situation:
1. Spread your Wings. It's time to expand beyond the comfort of your mentoring nest. Go forth and build a stronger internal, informal network. Look inside and outside of your function. Who are the critical stakeholders? Reach out to them. Find out how you can be of help. Offer your support. Give folks an opportunity to get to know you outside of your mentor's sphere. You'll be surprised how quickly the law of reciprocity and goodwill kicks in.
2. Stand on Your Own. Show others that you are your
own person and not solely defined by your mentor. To change this
perception, start generating critical results. If a key metric is sales,
close a few sales — on your own. If ideas can gain you some traction,
present new ones to the organization — on your own. You get the drift.
When you start actively letting your results speak on your behalf (and
not just your mentor), it will help others experience you as a leader in
your own right.
3. Speak the Truth. It's time for a no-holds-barred
conversation with your mentor. Exercise your managing-up skills. In
their quintessential HBR article "Managing Your Boss,"
Jack Gabarro and John Kotter highlight that effective professionals
seek the help they need instead of waiting for their bosses to provide
it. Same goes for the mentor-mentee relationship. Frame the conversation
carefully; tell your mentor, "What would be most helpful is if you
would let me work on this deal on my own..." While you'll need to
be direct with your request, remember that your mentor is a person too.
Be appreciative and clear that you are not abandoning him, but simply
asking for his help in supporting your leadership development. In the
long run, you both stand to benefit from this conversation.
What thoughts do you have on managing mentoring relationships? What suggestions do you have for turning around a mentor relationship gone bad?
Amy Jen Su and Muriel Maignan Wilkins are co-founders and managing partners of Isis Associates, a boutique executive coaching and leadership development firm.
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