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to, and when and where certain activities are “the norm” or not.
This doesn’t mean teaching the person how to play games or how
to “get around” organizational structure. On the contrary, it’s like
introducing a tourist to a foreign country. Nothing works better in
learning an organization’s culture than a guided tour by a “native.”
In short, you can help your people understand what they have
to know to prosper and grow in your special organizational culture
and political environment.
Appreciation of Networking
Mentoring helps people see the value of “networking,” not just
the benefits of exchanging business cards everywhere they go or
attending meetings of professional clubs to raise their industry or
local-business exposure. Those things have their place in the
broader context of networking, but they have little practical
application in the context of day-to-day performance or
productivity goals. Networking in this instance means helping
your associate recognize and learn from the people in your
organization most likely to help her grow professionally.
Help your people understand that interactivity and exchanging
ideas with others are keys to growth ... theirs and the team’s!
Maybe that means scheduling time for the team member to meet
with someone in the organization who once had her job. It may
mean introducing your associate to the department head in charge
of jobs coming to your department — or in charge of jobs coming
from your area. As your associate develops an understanding of
and appreciation for the “big picture,” her value to the
organization will increase dramatically.
Proactive Approaches to Their Tasks
Team members can’t “rest on their laurels” or become content
with business as usual and hope to experience significant increases
in productivity. That’s why you must inspire the people you
mentor to become “proactive” (as opposed to reactive) about the
jobs they perform. One excellent way to communicate this
mindset is by practicing what Tom Peters calls the “one-idea
The Mentoring Role: Instruction by ExampleTeaching your
mentoree about your
office’s politics is
like introducing a
tourist to a
foreign country.