Ruth Gotian, Chief Learning Officer and an expert in mentorship, shares her insights on effective mentoring. She emphasizes that great mentors blend coaching and sponsorship with a focus on celebrating mentee successes. Informal mentoring often yields better results, and opening your network is essential for a mentee's growth. The discussion introduces the idea of the 'sophisticated barbarian,' promoting deep, challenging dialogues. Documentation of mentoring journeys can help track progress and enhance learning, showcasing the transformative power of mentoring relationships.
38:03
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Focus on Good Work
Focus on helping others and doing good work, regardless of labels like mentor, coach, or consultant.
Strive to make a positive impact on others' days.
insights INSIGHT
Informal Mentoring
Most mentoring relationships (61%) develop organically, not through formal requests.
Informal mentoring tends to be more effective than formal programs.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Formal Mentoring Programs
Formal mentoring programs are valuable for those lacking access, especially underrepresented groups.
Ensure formal programs have an exit ramp for mismatched pairings and training for both mentors and mentees.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
This book offers a detailed approach to mentoring, highlighting its benefits such as increased career satisfaction and productivity. It guides readers through the process of mentoring, from understanding its value to implementing successful mentoring programs within organizations. The authors provide practical strategies for both mentors and mentees to maximize the impact of mentoring.
Ruth Gotian: The Financial Times Guide to Mentoring
Ruth Gotian is the Chief Learning Officer and Associate Professor of Education in Anaesthesiology at Weill Cornell Medicine. She has been hailed by Nature and The Wall Street Journal as an expert in mentorship and leadership development. Thinkers50 has ranked her the #1 emerging management thinker in the world and she's a top LinkedIn voice in mentoring. Ruth is the author of The Success Factor and now along with Andy Lopata, The Financial Times Guide to Mentoring*.
We’ve all heard about the benefits of mentoring. In addition to receiving mentoring, great leaders give back by providing it to others. In this episode, Ruth and I discuss what the research shows that the best mentors do well.
Key Points
Effective mentors use a combination of skills in coaching, sponsorship, role-modeling, and mentoring to support the situation.
Informal mentoring tends to be more effective than formal pairings. 61% of mentoring relationships develop organically.
Open up your network to your mentee. It’s an essential way to support their growth — and yours.
Park your ego at the door. Instead, allow your mentee to shine. With their permission, amplify their achievements.
Take the role of “sophisticated barbarian.” Approach mentee situations with knowledge and experience, but with distance and objectivity of their other, daily interactions.
Document the challenges, accomplishments, and next steps during mentoring. This helps your mentee recognize accomplishments and grow their confidence.
Resources Mentioned
The Financial Times Guide to Mentoring by Ruth Gotian and Andy Lopata
Interview Notes
Download my interview notes in PDF format (free membership required).
Related Episodes
How to Build a Network While Still Doing Everything Else, with Ruth Gotian (episode 591)
The Art of Mentoring Well, with Robert Lefkowitz (episode 599)
The Way to Get Noticed by Key Stakeholders, with Daphne E. Jones (episode 614)
Discover More
Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic. To accelerate your learning, uncover more inside Coaching for Leaders Plus.
Coaching for Leaders 