Transcript

This week, you'll consider what makes a good mentor or coach. Many of the key skills are the same, and you'll look in more detail at three of them. For the mentoring or coaching relationship to work, there must be rapport between the individuals involved. And the ability to build that rapport is a crucial skill. Listening is arguably the most important skill of all. If you feel that your mentor or coach is really listening to you, the rapport between you will grow, and you're more likely to share your thoughts and feelings honestly. Questioning is the third skill you'll explore. Your mentor or coach won't usually tell you what to do about something. But by asking you the right questions at the right time, they can help you to make decisions for yourself. Finally, you'll consider some of the things that can go wrong in a mentoring or coaching relationship, such as poor communication or not committing enough time. Understanding the potential pitfalls will make it easier to avoid them and create a more positive and effective relationship as a result.