Mentors, Sponsors, Coaches, and the Gift of Feedback
In certain cultures, it wouldn’t be unusual for a new hire to look to a more seasoned coworker on his first day at work and say, “I depend on you to show me how to succeed,” and then expect that the more senior person will guide him and teach him to do his job well. The newcomer is acknowledging his need for help, saying, “Because you are more experienced I need your advice,” as well as asserting his junior status in the work relationship. There is a very clear acknowledgment of the power gap. Indeed, in strong, hierarchical, Confucian cultures like South Korea or Japan, you might even address someone one or two years older than you as “older brother” or “older sister,” even colleagues ...
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