The way you behave when mentoring is shaped by the legal aspects and requirements of the role. Together with an awareness of the skills, ‘know-how’ and tools you need to be an effective mentor, these provide a clear guide to the boundaries of a mentor’s role. Always bear in mind that mutual trust and respect between you and the mentee is key.
In its code of ethics, the European Mentoring and Coaching Council sets out a statement for boundary management. This states:
“The coach/mentor will:
- At all times operate within the limits of their own competence, recognise where that competence has the potential to be exceeded and where necessary refer the client either to a more experienced coach/mentor, or support the client in seeking the help of another professional such as a counselor, psychotherapist or business/financial advisor
- Be aware of the potential for conflicts of interest of either a commercial or emotional nature to arise through the coach/mentoring relationship and deal with them quickly and effectively to ensure there is no detriment to the client or sponsor.”