We’ve all had them.  The mentors who become not the person we thought they would be come. Here is a list of toxic mentors:

1) THE AVOIDER: Initial enthusiasm but later inaccessible.  Not available when the need is the greatest.  Cannot get close emotionally.

2) THE DUMPER: Delighted to gie the mentee opportunities, assignments, extra work, more responsibility, but gives inadequate guidance; the mentee is abandoned.

3) THE CRITICIZER: Believes mentoring is a license to point out mistakes.  Gives the mentee too much responsibility too soon and then criticizes them for inexperience and poor performance. Unconsciously keeps them subordinate.

4) THE USER: The mentee is the mentor’s spy in the ranks. They are a convenient, pleasant companion, backboard or source of ideas. They are used for the mentors benefit.

5) THE BLACK HALO: The Mentor teaches the mentee all there is to know, but all the teaching is against the favor of others and therefore the mentee is marked out as well.

6) THE QUEEN BEE: Doesn’t belive the mentee should show a need for help. Always suggests the hard work, tough it out method. The mentee feels inferior.

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