Michelangelo approached the craft of sculpting with the humble conviction that a unique and beautiful piece of art already existed within the stone, and his job was only to release it. We think the best mentors approach their art in the same way.
The Best Mentors Think Like Michelangelo
Michelangelo approached the craft of sculpting with the humble conviction that a unique and beautiful piece of art already existed within the stone, and his job was only to release it. The best mentors approach their art in the same way: helping mentees become who they want to be, not who the mentor thinks they should be. But it can be a challenge for mentors to use the Michelangelo approach when they’re mentoring someone of the opposite gender, especially when men are mentoring women. One reason for it may be that when it comes to key interpersonal skills such as listening, men sometimes struggle with the sort of active listening required to help a mentee gradually unearth her unique ideal self. To use the Michelangelo method, male mentors should beef up their listening skills, check their assumptions at the door, and practice humility.