EN
Film-style poster for the Guide Without Taking Over presentation

A guide for startup mentors A guide for startup mentors

How to help founders decide better without deciding for them.

ENDEESFRITNLPTTR

What this guide covers

What this guide covers

What this guide covers

When feedback backfires

Feedback can make things worse

It helps on average, but often hurts when it turns to the person.

0.41 Average effect of feedback on performance Kluger & DeNisi, Psychological Bulletin, 1996
1 in 3+ Feedback interventions that lowered performance instead Kluger & DeNisi, 1996

The advice ladder

Climb the advice ladder

Ask first, then show options, and only then give your view, labelled as opinion.

Feedback that lifts the bar

Pair a high bar with belief

Name the standard, say you believe they can meet it, then give one fix.

Whose decision it is

Hand every decision back

Customer learning and final calls stay with the founders; your job is the questions.

  • Can you call the customer for us? I will help you write the questions.
  • Just tell us what to build. What did the last five customers say?
  • Should we raise our prices? Your call. What would you test first?

Your own interests

Say your interests out loud

Wanting to invest or sell a service changes the relationship, so say it first.

  • You might invest tell the founders and the program
  • You sell a related service never pitch it in a session
  • You advise a competitor say so before you start

Doing it on Mentornity

Support the team on Mentornity

Reach one founder privately, share what you reviewed, and keep every meeting on record.

Message one founder

Open them from the team profile to write privately.

Attach what you reviewed

Add up to 10 files to a meeting note.

Log a meeting held elsewhere

A call outside the platform can still go on record.

Message one founder

Open them from the team profile to write privately.

Attach what you reviewed

Add up to 10 files to a meeting note.

Log a meeting held elsewhere

A call outside the platform can still go on record.

In your next meeting

End every topic with one question: your call, so what will you do?

Sign in to Mentornity Read the guide
Sign in to Mentornity Sign in Read the guide