David Clutterbuck, wants to interview pairs of mentors and mentees about their experience, as part of a major longitudinal study. If you are a mentor and would like to volunteer yourself and your mentee to take part (or vice versa) please contact David at [email protected]
David Clutterbuck
4 Responses
Mentees no, proteges yes!
Since Mentor is the name of a mythological person, it’s a noun, not a verb. Mentors don’t go around ‘Menting’, so you can’t pair one with a ‘Mentee’.
Mentors have their Proteges.
Hope the reseach goes well.
NK
Mentee or protege
What to call the “junior” partner in a mentoring relationship has been a puzzle for some time. The European Mentoring and Coaching Council has for 10 years had a prize for suggestions for a widely acceptable alternative to protege or mentee. Protege is unacceptable in Europe and much of the rest of the world because it implies sponsorship and using one’s power and influence on the behalf of someone else. A more modern view of mentoring sees it as a developmental partnership.
Mentor’s name was derived from the word to think or reflect — so grammatically mentee is quite acceptable. (Mentor also had a colleague Mentes, who was wiser!) Mentee is still an ugly word, however!
Mentees?
Reminds me of the dilemma for sales professionals..er..
associates..er..
people..er..
executives..etc.!
NK
Research and Mentoring
The nature of the relationship I have with those I mentor is such that I would need to know more about the research study and the kinds of interactin needed with myself and my clients. Most of my clients are senior managers and leaders is business.
By the way, I am clear about nomenclature. Those I mentor are my clients.