Experts Screw Up; So Why Trust a Mentor?
You might have heard some of these assertions below. They are worth recalling.
- “Train travel is not possible. Passengers, unable to breathe would die of asphyxia.” Dr. Dionysius Larder, English Scientist ( 1793–1859)
- “The Telephone has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication.” Western Union internal memo, 1876
- “Flight by machines heavier than air is unpractical and insignificant, if not utterly impossible.” SimonNewcomb, Astronomer, 1902
- “Who the hell wants to hear actors talk?” Harry M. Warner, Warner Bros. Studio, 1927
- “Television will never achieve popularity; it takes place in a semi-darkened room and demands continuous attention.” Chester L. Dawes, Harvard Professor, 1940
- “I think there is a world market for about 5 computers.” Thomas Watson, IBM, 1943
- “Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 Tons” Popular Mechanics, 1949
- “What the hell is it good for.” Robert Lloyd of IBM on the Microprocessor, 1958
- Decca Recording Co. rejecting the Beatles: “We don’t like their sound and guitar music is on their way out”.
Given passage of enough time, and we can see that many experts who are supposed to be in the know didn’t, (as they say in the Midwestern vernacular) know their ass from a hole in the ground.
So why should you believe and trust what a mentor has to say? In part because the role of a mentor is quite different than of an expert or a coach or even an adviser.
Understanding this difference is crucial to getting the absolute most out of a mentoring relationship.
Mentoring is about a partnership in which a more experienced person (the mentor) helps a person who can benefit from that relationship (the mentee). It is a partnership for the purpose of learning and development.
Mentors are role models. They are interested in your personal and professional growth. A friends and confidants. They point you to new resources, help you network. Need ‘warm’ introductions to people you ought to know? Need a sounding board? — they are there. They look like consultants but, miracle of miracles, often work for gratis! Not being paid does not prevent them from challenging your half-baked assumptions. They are tough devil’s advocate and can be a SOB.
When a Mentor points out your potential mistakes or blunders it is not because they want to put you down. It is because they have made or are aware of, similar ones themselves and want you to avoid them. They are pushy and will push you to into learning skills that you may have skipped. They do believe that their ass is also on the line.
An expert or a coach or an advisor may provide many services that overlap what a mentor does. However there are two crucial differences: First, they don’t just tell, they co-develop the overall direction, and path of activity; and Second, they do it without consulting fees.
Why would they do it? Because they are Mentors!!!
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Dr. Rajiv Tandon is an Entrepreneur, Educator and Mentor. He facilitates peer groups for CEOs of fast-growing companies in Minnesota. To learn more, sign up to get the email newsletter.
