How Long Do I Mentor Part 2

Trying to mentor someone who doesn't like you can be like making an hour glass go backwards.

          Hopefully you will have a pretty good idea of what is expected of you as a mentor before you begin. If you are being sponsored by a particular organization who understands the mentoring process, they will adhere to the best practices of mentoring. This means they will give you a mentoring assignment that fits your personality and capability.

          You should not be obligated to continue mentoring somebody if you are like oil and water. Sometimes it happens that personalities do not mesh. Trying to get along with somebody when they do not like you can be detrimental to the mentoring process. If you are both adults, please be honest and candid as to not waste each others time. If you are working with a young person, be honest and then let your sponsoring supervisor know as soon as possible.

          In certain situations you may want to advise someone to seek professional counseling. Unless you are a trained and professional counselor, you may be well advised to sever the relationship if the need is overwhelming or dangerous. Never try and be someone that you are not, no matter how much you want to help.

          Mentoring is generally done for a specified amount of time. It can be extended or shortened based on the needs or relationship with the mentoree. Don't give up too early based on the unresponsiveness of the mentoree. Be prepared to work hard to gain trust and build the relationship. Many times young people have been rejected or abandoned and their trust level is very low or nonexistent. If your gut really tells you to stop the mentoring relationship, please do so.

Thanks for your time.
Go do something nice for somebody.

Please contact us if we can help you teach your mentors the best way to build mentoring relationships. ywapbuffalo@yahoo.com
www.youthwithapurpose.org