Coaching, mentoring and management.
These words go together like "peas in a pod", like "ducks in a pond", like
"peanut and butter" or do they…? When you
look at the curious relationship between coaching, mentoring and management you
see anything but a match made in heaven. As a matter of fact, you often see a
very dangerous, if not toxic relationship.
It looks such a good idea on paper. We have all probably heard the speech. In
case you've forgotten, it sounds something like this:
"I want you to do the best you can here, and as your manager I want to be here
to help coach and mentor you. That means I'm going to try and help you by giving
you all my years of expertise here on the
job." Sounds great doesn't it? Too bad it
rarely works. Let me list the intent, and the reality…
Intent: To allow someone to open up and share their true feelings.
Reality: It is nearly impossible to open up to a manager or a person
you report to. We try and work with a coach or mentor because
that's what we are instructed to do.
Intent: To show someone the ropes by sharing years of
real-world wisdom.
Reality: It is nearly impossible to show
the line between personal style and measureable technique.
What happens instead is the coaching of personal style which
typically only works well with the person who is coaching. |
