In their Harvard Business Review article, Brad Johnson and David Smith highlight challenges with formal mentoring programs. They’ve observed some of the same challenges I’ve seen, including:
- The challenge of spontaneous meetings.
- Adherence to a traditional hierarchy.
- The occasional participation of less than willing mentors.
Past guest Dorie Clark writes:
Your career needs many mentors, not just one.
Past guest John Maxwell adds:
Everyone needs more than one mentor. No one does everything well, and no single person shares all of your strengths.
Past guest Rita McGrath reminds us that:
Snow melts from the edges. The most effective leaders can and will see this if they are present at the edges.
Resources
- Real Mentorship Starts with Company Culture, Not Formal Programs by Brad Johnson and David Smith
- Your Career Needs Many Mentors, Not Just One by Dorie Clark
- The Leader's Greatest Return: Attracting, Developing, and Multiplying Leaders by John Maxwell
- Seeing Around Corners: How to Spot Inflection Points in Business Before They Happen by Rita McGrath
Related Episodes
- How to Start Seeing Around Corners, with Rita McGrath (episode 430)
- How to Motivate Leaders, with John Maxwell (episode 452)
