What’s Wrong With Mentoring?

I was recently asked about why mentoring sometimes goes wrong. In my opinion, most problems in mentoring are caused by lack of:

1. Focus - being unclear about, or having unrealistic expectations. Having no goals or not knowing what to do;
2. Skills - poor listening and questioning. Too much or not enough rapport. Inability to use both facilitative and authoritative communication styles; and
3. Structure - not having simple but effective models to apply within the relationship. And the organisation not providing a support structure to help maintain mentoring.

Ann