What do you do if your workplace safety mentor isn't helping you advance your career?

1 Assess the problem

The first step is to identify the specific issues that are affecting your mentorship relationship. For example, you may feel that your mentor is too busy, too critical, too vague, or too distant. You may also have different expectations, communication styles, or learning preferences. Try to be honest and objective about the problem, and avoid blaming or judging your mentor.

2 Communicate your concerns

The next step is to communicate your concerns with your mentor in a respectful and constructive way. You can request a meeting or a phone call, and prepare some points to discuss. For example, you can express your appreciation for their time and guidance, explain your career goals and needs, share your feedback and suggestions, and ask for their input and support. You can also set some clear and realistic expectations and boundaries for the mentorship.

3 Seek alternatives

If communicating with your mentor does not resolve the problem, or if the problem is too serious or complex, you may need to seek alternative sources of support and learning. You can look for other mentors within or outside your organization, who have the skills, experience, and personality that match your needs. You can also explore other opportunities to advance your career, such as online courses, webinars, podcasts, books, or networking events.

4 Evaluate the outcome

The final step is to evaluate the outcome of your actions and decide whether to continue or end the mentorship. You can assess whether the problem has improved, worsened, or remained the same, and whether you are satisfied with the level and quality of support and guidance you receive. You can also reflect on what you have learned and achieved through the mentorship, and how it has helped you grow professionally and personally.

5 End the mentorship gracefully

If you decide to end the mentorship, you should do so in a graceful and respectful way. You can thank your mentor for their time and effort, acknowledge their contribution to your career development, and explain your reasons for ending the relationship. You can also express your hope to stay in touch and maintain a positive rapport. Ending the mentorship gracefully can help you avoid burning bridges and preserve your reputation.

6 Learn from the experience

Regardless of the outcome of your mentorship, you can learn from the experience and use it to improve your future relationships. You can identify what worked and what didn't work in the mentorship, and what you liked and disliked about your mentor. You can also recognize your strengths and weaknesses as a mentee, and what you can do to enhance your skills and performance. Learning from the experience can help you find and work with better mentors in the future.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?