4 Common Barriers To Mentoring — And How To Navigate Them
By Cindy Barth – Contributing Writer , The Business Journals
Mentoring is one of the most powerful tools for personal and professional growth, whether you’re an individual looking to advance your career or a company aiming to develop your team’s skills.
However, like any journey worth taking, mentoring comes with its own set of challenges. From establishing clear expectations to navigating complex relationships, mentors and mentees alike may face obstacles along the way.
“The more people we learn from, the more tools that became available to us,” said Stacy Cassio, founder and CEO of Pink Mentor Network. “I hear over and over — particularly from young women — that they’re almost craving that ability to tap into the brain power and insights of women who have been there before them.”
That’s why, with the right strategies and tools, you can make the most of a mentoring experience, Cassio added.
To find out more about the common barriers to successful mentoring relationships — and how to overcome them — Bizwomen talked with Cassio; Megan Patton, managing partner at ODA Strategy; and Val Jones, women’s segment lead at Wells Fargo, to get their insights about making the most of mentoring opportunities.
Here’s what they shared about four common barriers.