“It's classic advice –
by giving you get.”

Jayne

Vice President, Strategic Business Implementation
FoodBuy

How long have you been with Compass Group?

Twenty-one years.

What made you decide to become a mentor?

I've had some very good mentors. People helped me, and I believe it's important that I do the same for my colleagues.

How did you begin your mentoring partnership with Allison?

Allison approached me. She's extremely proactive. I believe she has tremendous potential and is interested in leadership. That's the kind of mentee I want to spend time with.

How does your partnership work?

Allison is responsible for initiating our meetings. Generally we meet every six weeks. If there's an urgent situation she wants counseling on, she can always call me.

How do you prepare for each session?

I keep notes on Allison, as I do with all of my mentees. I'll review my notes about where we were last time.

How do you like Allison to prepare for your meetings?

I expect her to work on the three key points we discussed at our previous meeting. I also give her tasks with the expectation that she'll follow through on them. But she has to be the driver of the partnership—and she most definitely is.

What is key to a successful mentoring relationship?

Accountability, trust and courage. Mentoring requires a trusting relationship on both sides. I have a rule: whatever goes on behind that door stays behind the door. If you don't develop trust in the relationship, you lose the essence of mentoring.

A mentee needs to have the courage to look at herself in the mirror. Sometimes the very thing we criticize in someone else is the thing we don't like seeing in ourselves.

A mentee also needs to be open and share with me what might be a risky situation—I can't help her without that. I'll probably challenge her to find a solution—even if it means going to her boss or her boss's boss.

What would you like Allison to gain from your partnership?

I'd like Alison to develop emotional and business acumen. You need both to succeed today. I spend a lot of time with my mentees helping them understand people's behavior.

I also tell them that life isn't a straight line. Business needs aren't always about what your needs are. You need to develop a more holistic vision to be effective—both for the business and for your career.

What have you gained from this mentoring relationship?

First, insight. When you become a leader within an organization you can lose touch with associates and the effect some of your decisions can have on them. Through my mentees, I reconnect and gain insight.

Another plus is advocacy. Mentoring reminds me of the high caliber of talent we have in the organization. It allows me to help people develop and to make sure they don't get passed by.

And third, constant learning. Every time I mentor somebody, I find myself revisiting the fundamentals of my business or communication or style. It makes me stop and think about better ways to handle things.

Never underestimate how much you gain on a personal level by watching somebody else grow. Remember, it's the classic: "By giving, you get."