Mentoring is a privilege

For me, it’s a huge privilege to be a Mentor.

Currently, I am partnering with two amazing mentees. They are both open, intelligent, thoughtful, and inspiring. They are focused on personal growth and both curious to learn.

They want me to listen, ask them questions, and share a different point of view or a new perspective but, fortunately, they really don’t expect me to be like Yoda and know all the answers!

It’s enjoyable developing the relationship and supporting someone else in their career development.

It’s very rewarding to be able to share experiences and offer advice, ideas, and options (for me, sometimes it also involves sharing cake).

So, if you are considering becoming a mentor then I would highly recommend it.
 
Although, if you are new to mentoring, I would suggest that you may find it beneficial to join a mentoring scheme that can provide you both with some additional structure and support.

Unfortunately, there isn’t as much practical advice on how to be an effective mentor available as you might expect. However, I have found the following guidance useful:

Build Trust. This is the foundation of any mentoring relationship. It’s important to earn trust by creating a safe, confidential space. Be non-judgemental and show compassion and empathy.

Give your mentee your full attention. Take the initiative to build a strong partnership with your mentee. Demonstrate commitment and reliability. Clarify how you will engage based on what feels comfortable for you both.

Give the mentoring relationship time to develop. Like all new relationships, it is likely this relationship will evolve over time.

Listen to understand rather than respond. Be curious and really listen to them.  Aim to fully understand where your mentee is coming from. Ensure you’re addressing the real problem rather than its symptom.

Share stories and experiences. Highlight lessons learned throughout your career by explaining what you learned and how you learned it.

Celebrate their achievements. Highlight areas of growth you see in them and what areas of development you’ve seen.

Connect the dots for your mentees. Aim to identify other people, places and opportunities that could be interesting for them. Be generous with your connections and be proactive in making introductions.

I have found these professional relationships also provide the opportunity for valuable ‘reverse’ mentoring too.

As an example, when I shared my very first LinkedIn post one of my mentees was quick to provide encouragement and support. But also immediately suggested I start using hashtags!