Skeptics, resisters, and potential saboteurs often undermine new mentoring initiatives. The reasons they articulate are legion: “We did mentoring before, and it didn’t work;” “We don’t have the time or resources;” or “We don’t have enough mentors.”
How can you surmount the voices of naysayers and resistors in order to further mentoring in your organization?
• Surface the voices of resistance.
• Listen carefully to the messages.
• Gather as much input as you can.
• Analyze the themes.
• Address the issues.
Successful mentoring programs drum out resistance early by inviting feedback. Getting the resistance out into the open diffuses potential obstacles and provides invaluable information that helps strengthen implementation efforts. To learn more about overcoming organizational resistance, please see Creating a Mentoring Culture and visit us at www.centerformentoring.com.
