Bridging Differences for Better Mentoring

INTRODUCTION

Why Bridging Differences Matters

We each bring who we are to our mentoring relationships. Yet “who we are” is composed of several elements: the person we see ourselves as, the person our mentoring partners see us as, and the unique cultural lens through which we view the world and the way it works. “Who we are” is determined by the many factors that shape our identity, culture, and worldview.

Unless you are working in a highly homogeneous organization, you will encounter visible and not-so-visible differences between who you are and who your mentoring partner is. The potential minefields for mentoring relationships are everywhere if we fail to adequately acknowledge and explore those differences in a way that promotes learning and ...