Situation A

The employee calls the mentor to say that he or she has just been assigned to write, submit the department's year-end activity report.The project usually takes three days to complete, but the employee has been allowed only one day.

You are the employee's mentor.Coach or counsel?Justify your answer.

Situation B

At lunch the employee mentions to the mentor that he or she had a run-in with the divisional vice-president.The vice president expressed concerns about a recent company presentation to a potential client in which the employee participated.The vice president was unhappy that the company lost that contract.The employee tells the mentor that this seems like a personal attack.

You are the employee's mentor. Coach or counsel?Justify your answer

Situation C

The employee tells the mentor he or she feels great pressure to make more sales this month.Then the employee says that he or she has lowered the price to close sales on two occasions without the approval of the sales manager.There is a company policy against lowering sales without the approval of the sales manager.

You are the employee's mentor. Coach or counsel? Justify your answer

Situation D

The mentor meets the employee's supervisor in the hallway and asks how the employee is doing in his or her new position.The supervisor responds that the employee has been writing and revising visuals for the upcoming management meeting for weeks - letting other work slide.

You are the employee's mentor. Coach or counsel?Justify your answer.