Whilst the role of a mentor is to guide and support a mentee, mentors can have different styles.  To ensure that the mentee is able to gain the most from the mentoring sessions, it is important that the mentor’s style suits the mentee.  This requires the mentee to recognise the mentoring style which will serve them best, which may depend upon where they are in their career and what they are looking to achieve from the mentoring.  Here we explore the different mentoring styles.

Adviser – a mentor who acts as an adviser uses their experience to lead their mentee toward a better career path.  This generally suits a mentee who is looking to progress to a more senior level and is looking for advice on the steps they need to take.

Protector – this is a mentor who acts as a guardian to their mentee.  They create a safe environment for the mentee, protecting them from harm, whether physical, mental or emotional.  This particularly suits mentees who work in a stressful or unsafe environment.

Coach – whilst coaching is different to mentoring, there is a coaching style of mentoring.  A mentor who demonstrates a coaching style allows the mentee to lead the relationship.  This style works for mentees who like to make their own decisions but are looking for some light guidance or reassurance from the mentor when they make their decisions.

Connector – a mentor who acts as a connector is well-connected and has strong networking skills.  They help their mentee connect with others who can help them further their career.  Connectors can support a variety of mentees, regardless of the mentee’s seniority and mentoring objectives.

Challenger – this is a mentor who will give honest feedback and encourages the mentee to improve their critical thinking.  If the mentee responds well to this style of mentoring, it will help to push them out of their comfort zone, encouraging them to drive themselves forward.

Clarifier – a mentor who acts as a clarifier understands the culture and politics in which the mentee works. Where a mentee is new to an organisation or a industry sector, the clarifying mentor will provide guidance and support to the mentee, enabling them to settle in and progress quicker.

Sponsor – this is a mentor who nurtures the mentee helping them to succeed.  They work very closely with the mentee, partnering with them to help them achieve their goals.

Affirmer – this is a mentor who supports the mentee to overcome a difficult issue, by listening to the mentee and validating their decisions.

Of course a mentor may demonstrate a combination of these different mentoring styles, for instance being an advisor and a connector.  They may demonstrate this all the time, or it may be dependent upon the individual needs of a mentee.

For mentoring to be successful, it is essential that the mentor is able to support the mentee toward their goals and that the mentor and mentee are able to build trust and a strong relationship.  If the mentee needs the mentor to challenge their thinking, but the mentor is an affirmer, the mentoring will simply not be effective.  Therefore, it can be useful for the mentor to reflect on their mentoring style, enabling them to set out to potential mentees, the styles they gravitate towards.  This enables the mentee to make an informed decision about whether the mentor will give them the kind of support they require, ultimately enabling them to meet their objectives.