Some Common Mentoring Myths

The myths that often deter prospective mentors and mentees from participating in mentoring relationships are, as this section points out, just that: common misperceptions based on inaccurate information.
  • Myth: Mentoring will take too much time
  • Fact: Participants in mentoring relationships consistently report that mentoring takes less time than they expected. One or two short phone calls a week often is all that is required in a less formal relationship. A more formal relationship will take more time. In either case, the key to dealing with the issue of time is effective time management. From the outset, participants need to have consistent expectations on the amount of time to be spent on the relationship; and they need to make the most efficient use of their time together.
  • Myth: Mentor and mentee must be in the same place
  • Fact: In traditional mentoring relationships, the mentor and mentee were usually in one place and interaction occurred on a face-to-face basis. However, new ways of communicating, via the Web, e-mail, and other new technologies today make long-distance mentoring more feasible and more common.
The key to successful long-distance mentoring is a shared understanding of how and when communications will occur. While some face-to-face meetings may be necessary, telephone calls and/or e-mails often are satisfactory for most subsequent discussions.

A principal benefit of long-distance mentoring is that it significantly expands the field of mentors available to any one person. This is especially useful for those who live in smaller cities where a suitable mentor may not be available locally.
  • Myth: Only young professionals can benefit from being a mentee
  • Fact: Mentoring can and does benefit even the most experienced property management professional. In fact I have many mentors that provide me with incredible learning experiences based on their area of specialty.