Characteristics of a successful partnership*
1. TRUST observe professional ethics and confidentiality
2. HONESTY be honest about your abilities and what you have to offer
3. BALANCE not top down ; mentee and mentor share ideas
4. RESPECT respect each other s time and talents
5. COMMITMENT decide on a timeline and stick to it
6. SENSE OF HUMOUR don t be afraid to share your mistakes
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*Jen Denys, Right Path Consulting
How formal you want the relationship to be is up to
you, according to Denys, but she says having a written
agreement or guidelines may avoid tension over time.
It s important to agree on key issues. Where will
you meet? How often? What is the best way to contact
each other? What are the beginning and end dates?
The nice thing about doing it in writing is that
you have a reference, Denys says. It gets some of
the little questions answered as well, like is it okay
to call you or would you prefer e-mail? Will we meet
every Monday at 4 o clock or play it by ear? There s
value in having it written down.
Throughout the process, flexibility is essential
because, as any farmer knows, weather or breakdowns
can change your schedule overnight.
Paramount, says Denys, is establishing a climate
of confidentiality, so that what is said on the farm,
stays on the farm. This requires trust, which is why
MacGregor spends a half-day on the mentee s farm
before he ever makes a recommendation.
We have to get a bit of a relationship going
before you re going to believe anything I say,
MacGregor says. That s where it s important to
spend that time and say, Well, on my farm, this,
this and this happened and help them see they can
try something a little different. CG
