Mentoring a Peer

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 06:56:35 -0400

Can you share an experience when you had to "correct" a peer? How do you tell someone who is your Battle Buddy; the same rank as you; the same experience level as you, that he or she is wrong about something or doing something wrong?
Is this a task you find easier, since it's a peer? Or is it easier to mentor/correct someone who is a subordinate?

Response by SMSgt Judy Hickman made Dec 10 at 2014 11:54 PM

SMSgt Judy Hickman — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 23:54:04 -0500

I've had good luck mentoring a peer and bad luck mentoring a peer. I believe the person has to be open to the mentoring, otherwise they won't allow themselves to take the criticism and put it too good use. I personally find it hard to mentor my peers (the same rank as I), mostly because a few think very highly of themselves and therefore won't accept the feedback, whether that is over the phone, through email or even face to face with a witness present. I've had others really appreciate my opinion and were able to use my advice in their work areas and vice versa. I love that level of being a team, we collaborate and we both get something from the relationship, sometimes I am the mentor and sometimes the mentee.

Response by Maj John Bell made May 12 at 2016 12:50 AM

Maj John Bell — Thu, 12 May 2016 00:50:53 -0400

There were many occasions that the infantry LTs "counseled" each other. It usually started at the racquet ball courts and someone or both left the counseling session with a black eye or fat lip. The follow up session would take place at the O Club where rounds of beer were exchanged. The Captains and above wouldn't get involved unless it took more than the Battalion aid station (BAS) to repair the injuries. The BAS was pretty capable.

The primary spark was usually "unasked for peer review".

I was blessed with SNCO's appropriate to my billet that were great mentors to me. Also my first BnXO was a superior artist at leadership.