Mentorship: When it works and when it doesn’t
A healthy mentoring relationship is:
- practical
- useful
- challenging
- fun
- inspiring
- motivating
- active (both parties engaged)
There needs to be:
- compatibility between mentor and mentee
- clear expectations
- clear boundaries
- clear communication
- goals
- respect for differences
- investment of time and energy (mentor and mentee)
- honesty
- trust
- openness
- accommodation of difference
- respect
- generosity
- enthusiasm
- deep listening
- confidentiality
- humour
- healthy risk taking
A successful art mentorship needs to be focused on art.
Ingredients of an unhealthy mentoring relationship include:
- lack of trust
- lack of confidentiality
- infrequent contacts (time not invested)
- lack of focus/goals
- lack of guidelines/parameters or guidelines not respected
- incompatibility of mentor and mentee
- lack of preparation
- disorganization
- unchecked power dynamics
- insensitivity to race, ethnicity, gender, class, ability, etc.
- unclear communication
- unrealistic expectations
- mentor incompetence (technically or relationally)
- boundary violations (can include problematic attraction)
- jealousy
- unresolved disputes