I asked someone higher in the company to be my mentor. The last two times, I came with an agenda. Yet, the topic quickly swerves towards my perception of a co-worker, another mentee.

Before I go looking for another mentor/sponsor,
1) What is the unwritten protocol here:
2) Is this how mentors get to know you?
3) What are the unwritten rules about higher ups using you as a sounding board/asking you questions about another employee? Spill the beans, state you have no comment?

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Give well thought out, diplomatic answers.

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A mentor should never ask questions about how you feel towards someone else. It is unprofessional and has nothing to do with mentoring you. If I were in your shoes I would say something unbiased about the coworker and then shift the focus back to you and what you are there for. If this doesn’t work, then I would seek a different mentor.

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So strange. Does it seem like they're trying to uncover dirt on this employee or something? When I had an assigned "coach," we never really discussed anyone else during our meetings and just talked about my performance, goals, etc.

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It’s either dirt on the employee or how best to improve that employee. The employee in question is the golden child due to his network within the company. Not nepotism related but connected.

Knowing that employee’s network, probably trying to groom for a next level role.

This is unusual, to say the least. Maybe consider finding a mentor outside the company.

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I would not meet with this mentor again. It’s supposed to be you time.

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A mentor should only be focusing on you, or giving advice based on their own career experiences. No need at all for them to be asking you to give opinions about coworkers.

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Sounds to me like your mentor has no idea what you’re asking them to do, and they are being self-serving. I agree with other people’s suggestions here. Look elsewhere.

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