Becoming an Effective Mentor
So, what are the things you should do as a mentor to be effective in this role? Several factors will help guide you as you guide those who look to you for support. Here is a breakdown of what these are and what they mean to you as a mentor:
Be Curious
One way to help someone is to ask questions. It allows them to voice concerns and gives you information. With the questions you can start to challenge the person you are mentoring and show interest in what they are doing.
Be Generous
A good mentor does not limit how much time they provide someone, nor do they set a cap on how much experience they will share. Remember to be generous even with your connections as all of it will be helpful.
Celebrate
By noting big and small wins with recognition, you can provide motivation and encouragement to the person you are mentoring. It makes them feel good and try even harder for the next win.
Challenge
One of the most effective ways of promoting growth is through challenges. As a mentor, you can challenge the way someone sees a situation which helps them reframe it and approach an issue from a different angle with a new solution.
Commit
To build trust as a mentor, you have to set a good example. This means keeping appointments, being on time, and being present. What you do as a mentor has as much influence as the things you say.
Don’t Overstep
It is important to stay as hands-off as possible. You can offer suggestions, but refrain from micromanaging. Your goal is to get the person you are mentoring to do the heavy lifting in all situations.
Keep It Constructive
The feedback you provide has to be honest. However, to be useful, it also has to be positive and constructive. Try to say something that offers a challenge or suggestion that enhances the situation.
Role Model
Remember, you are setting an example. Do not give advice that you do not follow yourself. As a business mentor, it is important to share from your experience what works and doesn’t work and something you can back up because you tried doing it yourself.
Stay Open
The person you are mentoring is on their own journey. Let them explore that without projecting your biases or expectations. Have an open mind to the possibilities and let things unfold naturally.
Use Effective Communication
There is much truth to knowing when to open or close your mouth. When your mouth is closed, open your eyes and ears. Know when to interject and when to sit back and observe or listen.
How Mentoring Helps Business
A mentoring program has many benefits for the company that implements it. For example, it provides in-house staff training that is both measurable and tangible. Mentoring also improves progressive planning, productivity, motivation, and efficiency. Mentoring can have a positive influence on staff retention, and company communication, and helps eliminate intergenerational barriers. With all of these potential positive outcomes, it only makes sense for companies, groups, and organisations to have a mentoring program.
If you currently sit in a leadership position in your business, consider the knowledge you have and how someone else can benefit from your experience. Become a business mentor to help future employees.
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Conclusion
Mentors add value to the learning experience. They offer expert advice and guidance. The most interesting thing about mentoring is that anyone can be a mentor. All you need is experience in a specific topic and you can be a source of support and inspiration to someone new to that field. Mentoring does take some skill, but essentially, you are helping someone who looks to you for support and encouragement.
Businesses that implement mentoring programs have found that they provide many benefits. Ranging from increasing productivity and retention to improving communication, there is much to gain from being a mentor or having a mentoring program in place.