Tailored Advice, Not Platitudes
Mentors should recall the unfortunate ease with which they can offer general advice to those who are essentially unknown—but not unknowable—persons requesting their assistance, and refrain from speaking too quickly.
In worst case scenarios, even mentors with impeccable intentions can resort to an undemanding reliance on platitudes instead of the tailored advice that depends on a solidly grounded and detailed informational profile of the mentee.
To prevent the use of generalities, mentors can specifically utilize the data provided by mentees in the initial sessions regarding such basic matters as prior education, training, and work experience as a factual foundation.
In addition, the views of mentees regarding their ...
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