Devoted to small businesses and those who run them

Staff, managers, business owners and mentors often generalize, as I'm doing right now.

As the saying goes - All generalizations are false, including this one. 

Workplace Generalizations Mentors Encounter
Workplace generalizations can overstate or understate a situation.

Negativity, insecurity or discontent spawn generalizations. So do over confidence and arrogance.

Have You Heard These Generalizations?

• No one appreciates what I do
• Everyone else gets the good jobs
• I'm always the hardest worker
• People don't listen to my opinions
• I don't see why I'm the only one who has to do this
• Mary always says...
• I'm no good at technology
• You never ask me...
• Why does Jim always...
• All our customers love us
• Our products are the best in the world
• Product XYX never breaks down
• My opinions are never considered
• Jill is late all the time
• She never helps
• Every time I ask her she ignores me
• I get on well with everybody

What Does The Person Really Mean?
There is often an element of truth in a generalization. It is the mentor's role to find out what the person really means. A good starting point is to ask open ended questions. 

Isolate The Underlying Issues
Mentors using effective questioning tecniques is not dissimilar to a counsellor asking questions to identify underlying issues. Ask open ended questions to stimulate some discussion and exploration of these issues, concerns, boasts or beliefs.

Sample Open Ended Questions For Mentors

• Do you really think that is true?
• Can you give me an example?
• When did that happen?
• Why do you believe that is the case?
• What do you think you can do about it?
• Have you noticed times when it doesn't happen?
• What happened when you tried?
• Do you think there may be times when you can...?