My boss thinks she's my mentor.

No matter what you think of Sheryl Sandberg, I recommend reading the chapter if her book on mentoring. It really changed the way I think about mentors.

A mentor-mentee relationship does not have to be so formal. I have two mentors at work. With my mentors I go out to lunch with maybe once a month and we talk about our impressions of our company and I get advice on challenges I may be facing. I consider my mentors my friends even though they are more senior than I am. I followed one of my mentors to my current company and I worked on cultivating new relationships.

We do have a formal mentor program at my job but I'm not part of it. Cultivating mentors is like finding friends - formal programs seem really forced, but I understand the need for it.

Anonymous wrote:I have one assigned to me but aside from answering some technical questions, she is more trouble than she is worth. She is on medication this year which makes her tolerable. We shard an office/classroom last year and I wanted to jump off a bridge some days. I am amazed that she has her job because she is so NOT good with people.

I see this a lot with people who volunteer for things. It seems like they want to use the position to further their career but usually suck at it.

I have one assigned to me but aside from answering some technical questions, she is more trouble than she is worth. She is on medication this year which makes her tolerable. We shard an office/classroom last year and I wanted to jump off a bridge some days. I am amazed that she has her job because she is so NOT good with people.

Bwahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No

What qualities does that person have that make him/her a good mentor? Has that person been helpful in guiding you in your career development? Could you share...?