Capri Mentorship Program: Mentor Toolkit
12
COMMON
MENTORSHIP
PITFALLSIt is natural and expected for mentoring
relationships to experience set-backs from time
to time. Do your best to avoid or minimize
these setbacks by being aware of the common
mentorship pitfalls:
Having Unrealistic Expectations For The Relationship And
Focusing On Too Much, Too Soon.
• Be realistic about what the relationship can accomplish in one year. Make sure
that you clarify goals and expectations at the onset of the relationship and
capture your thinking in the mentorship agreement.
Getting Sidetracked.
• The primary focus of your mentorship relationship is to develop your and your
mentee's professional self. With that said, discussing personal information is
not completely off limits. Asking your mentee about their weekend or a recent
vacation or sharing similar information about yourself can be an effective
step towards building rapport. Use your best judgment - if you think that
your conversations are veering down the wrong track, quickly refocus the
conversation back to development areas.
MENTOR TOOLKIT