Research shows that mentoring can be the most satisfying profession if you are genuinely interested in taking it up as a profession. Mentoring is the art of developing a one to one or a group relationship between an adult and a person much younger. Through this relationship, the mentor passes on valuable guidance and support to his mentee(s).
What’s the deal?
If you wish to be a mentor, think twice because it is a huge responsibility. You need to be a good listener and be aware of your mentee’s personal and professional life without giving him the feeling that you are being sneaky. You need to understand where the lacuna is. Thus, there are certain tips on becoming a mentor. These include –
As a mentor you need to possess certain qualities
As mentioned above, mentoring is not an easy profession. You need to possess certain attributes such that you can excel in this profession.
- You need to showcase dedication towards your mentee.
- You need to respect his ideologies and perspective of looking at things.
- You need to empathize and not sympathize.
- Look out for solutions and opportunities.
- You need to be open-minded and flexible.
Be accessible always
In order to be a mentor you need to be accessible all the time on your emails and in person. This will enable your mentee to develop a credibility factor towards you, for he knows you are always there for him.
A positive role model
Your mentee depends on you and tries to mould himself in order to become like you. He treats you as his role model. He is inspired by your way of handling things in front of him. Don’t show off, just be normal and let your mentee observe and learn. Show him the positive side of dealing with things.
Learn to share your experiences and thoughts
Just because you are a mentor that doesn’t mean you have never experienced failure in your life, or had a bad experience for that matter. We as human beings do have our ups and downs, but that doesn’t mean hiding our dark side with the bright. Share your failure stories and experiences and show your mentee how you have been able to sustain failures and what valuable insights you have mined out of it.
No gender biases
As a mentor, do not feel hesitant to comment over issues your mentee is going through, on the basis of his gender. Do not hold on to a stereotypical attitude or be prejudiced towards your mentee. This will cause a disruption in the relationship you both share.
Listen to everything your mentee speaks
Do not jump onto arbitrary conclusions without hearing the full tale. As a mentor you need to listen to every word your mentee is speaking of, and brainstorm and come up with powerful questions. These questions will take your mentoring to a different level.
Respect
Lastly, it is essential to respect the integrity and privacy of your mentee. You are not supposed to reveal the conversations to anyone irrespective of how close you are to the other person.
It is essential to understand that mentoring is just talking your heart out, but in a systematic manner, such that you are able to instill some values and advice on your mentee. Follow the tips on becoming a mentor and inspire, motivate and counsel your mentees the best possible way you can.
Leave a Reply