Description

When Mike House said "mentoring is any interaction that has the possibility of a disproportionate long lasting impact," something shifted for me. Not a formal programme. Not a monthly calendar booking. Just any moment where you notice something worth naming and find the courage to say it.

Yet we've made mentoring too formal, too time-intensive, and frankly, too heavy. We think it requires being the guru with all the answers, which means we miss the moments that actually matter.

This episode introduces five practical roles that any leader at any level can play to create those moments of disproportionate impact. Not theory. Not the corporate version of mentoring that looks good in annual reports but doesn't change much. Just ways of showing up that help others grow their capability.

I'll walk you through:

1. Why mentoring isn't about knowledge transfer but about creating conditions where growth becomes almost inevitable
2. The People Developer role: how to listen deeply, ask powerful questions, and challenge respectfully without diminishing confidence
3. The Cheerleader role: reflecting back people's brilliance when the daily grind makes them lose sight of their own capability
4. The Path Clearer role: removing unnecessary friction and helping people navigate organizational politics more easily
5. The Door Opener role: using your network and position to create opportunities that would otherwise remain invisible or out of reach
6. The Context Provider role: showing the bigger picture so people can transform isolated decisions into strategic moves
7. Which role to focus on first and how to practice it without adding hours to your calendar

This isn't about adding another development programme to your already long list of initiatives. It's about recognizing that if you're serious about leading lasting impact—about creating organizations that don't depend on you being the hero—then mentoring is how you build systems that think without you, adapt without you, and continue creating value long after you've moved on.

Whether you're formally mentoring one person or trying to build a culture where everyone develops everyone else, this framework will help you notice what's happening around you and choose to engage with it in ways that grow others' capability.

References:

Download the Five Ways to Mentor One-Pager: https://digbyscott.com/mentorroles

Episode referenced: 55. Chasing Certainty, Guerrilla Mindfulness, and Teachable Moments | Mike House - https://dig-deeper.captivate.fm/episode/interview-chasing-certainty-guerrilla-mindfulness-and-teachable-moments-mike-house

Episode referenced: 50. Listening beyond words and choosing what to say no to | Oscar Trimboli - https://dig-deeper.captivate.fm/episode/50-listening-beyond-words-and-choosing-what-to-say-no-to-oscar-trimboli

Solocast referenced: Four Questions That Change Everything -