Sexual attraction can have profound effects on mentoring, coaching, and career guidance. This article will explain how.
Mentors, coaches, and advisers often provide advice based on their own experiences and expertise. They may recommend certain courses of action that they believe will help mentees achieve their goals. But what happens when mentors feel attracted to their mentees or vice versa? Can this affect their judgment about what advice is best for their mentee's future?
Anecdotal evidence suggests that it does.
Some mentors who are aware of their feelings towards their mentee may be less likely to offer unbiased feedback or honest opinions out of fear of coming across as too personal. Alternatively, some mentors may intentionally steer their mentees away from paths that would put them in close proximity. Coaches who find themselves attracted to their athletes may also avoid discussing topics like training routines or nutrition in order to maintain distance.
The same could apply to career guides. Advisers who feel a connection with their clients may find themselves advocating for positions that they think the client would enjoy rather than ones that would be most beneficial for their long-term success. They might also advise against certain fields altogether if they know they would require close interaction between the two parties.
Of course, these situations aren't always negative. Some people thrive under the guidance of someone who understands their struggles personally, while others prefer an objective approach without any emotional baggage.
Those working in these roles should still consider the potential effects of sexual attraction and take steps to mitigate them whenever possible.
Mentors could seek outside counsel or limit one-on-one time with their mentees. Coaches could stick to general workouts and diet plans instead of individualized regimens. And career advisers could make sure to give balanced recommendations based on both the client's goals and their own experience.
What are the effects of sexual attraction on mentoring, coaching, and career guidance?
Research suggests that sexual attraction can have both positive and negative impacts on different forms of interpersonal interactions such as mentoring, coaching, and career guidance. On one hand, sexual attraction may lead to more intimate relationships between individuals which could result in increased trust and communication, leading to better outcomes in terms of goal achievement.