Mentoring Future Leaders

Mentoring Future Leaders
listen sensitively to their experiences without condemning or criticising, to
choose the right time to respond, and to respond with the appropriate
words, voice tone and body language. Empathy also means being willing
to put your own views aside in an effort to see things from the mentee’s
map of the world.
How can you get onto someone else’s “wavelength” and walk in his/
her shoes?
© Learning Link International
March 2005
How to Get in Tune With a Mentee’s
Preferred Processing Mode
Identify whether your mentee’s dominant processing mode is visual,
auditory or kenisthetic.
1. Visual processors think in pictures and as a result, tend to speak
rapidly, but with very little facial expression. If you watch their eyes,
they might look up before they answer your questions,
or stare straight ahead. They like to see pamphlets,
charts, graphs and pictures. You can help them to
identify with your product by encouragement such as
“picture this …” or “let’s see what you can do …” The
layout of your office tends to be very important for
“visuals”.
2. Auditory processors want you to talk. They are very sensitive to
the sound of your voice and will pick up the slightest irritation. They
prefer your oral description to pamphlets and written
proposals. Their eyes tend to move sideways or down.
Words such as “sounds good to me”, or “let’s hear what
they say” are often used.
3.Kinesthetic processors are sensitive, intuitive, touchyfeeling
people. They are quick to decide whether they like you or not
and can pick up your mood instantly. They are not afraid to touch
others. Pamphlets are not for looking but rather to be fondled. They
tend often to look down. They might respond by saying,
“I feel in agreement”, or “stay in touch”, or “I want to get
a handle on it”. If the person says something like
“I really feel you can help us”, respond in the same
Module 3 - Building Trusting
Relationships
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