7 Tips On How To Be A Better Mentor
Author:
December 16, 2022
Mentoring is a "connection", and a strong
relationship is built on a mutually beneficial exchange of information,
dedication, and trust. A mentor must take on the role of the relationship's
compass and help to determine its future course to advance from being a good
mentor to a better one.
The same golden standards for mentoring success that have
endured the test of time are still applicable and powerful today as they were
decades ago.
Here are some of them:
Listen deeply
In addition to being a leader, an excellent
listening skill is a crucial differentiator in a successful mentoring
relationship. Effective, involved, attentive, and sensitive listeners make
great mentors. They pay close attention. They pay attention with intent. They
listen with the purpose of taking in and considering ideas. This powerful and
attentive technique of hearing has an impact on all sorts of direction and
instruction that are offered back.
Show commitment
Dedication is a quality that both the
mentor and the mentee must equally exercise. Along with maintaining their own
commitment levels, a great mentor can play a crucial role in influencing the
mentee's level of dedication. If the mentor sees potential in the protégé,
maintaining a level of steadfast devotion will be crucial to the success of the
partnership.
Be open-minded
Just like how no two situations are the
same, no two debates, requests for direction or assistance, etc., are the same
or motivated by the same factors. Consequently, a successful mentor must
maintain an open mind. Openness should include the ability to think creatively
when necessary, customize proposals and advise, assist in planning and
improvisation, witness their previous counsel and direction destroyed, or
simply have the patience to observe the results of poor implementation of sound
advice.
Have patience
It is impossible to overstate the value of
patience as a virtue in a mentoring relationship. There will be times when you
feel annoyed, frustrated, confused, and miscommunicated, just like in any other
relationship. Great mentors have the patience to go through brief phases of
dissatisfaction. To maintain a productive and fruitful relationship, the mentee
is also required to provide the same support.
Be a complete role model
A fantastic mentor is ideal in every way.
You may have attracted attention because of your professional knowledge, your
professional achievement, or your great credentials, but when someone accepts
the position of a mentor, they need to have an impact that goes beyond
professional success.
The effectiveness of communication,
empathy, sensitivity, character strength and integrity, and the capacity to
inspire are all factors that contribute to a mentor's total impact in addition
to the information, experience, guidance, and direction that they are expected
to provide.
Learn more and pass your knowledge
It's critical to realize that mentors are
not superhumans. They are not expected to have knowledge for all conceivable
queries. Effective mentors do not let their students' ignorance or lack of
expertise render them helpless or the mentoring relationship unproductive.
When faced with an issue they do not know
the answer to, they reach out to their broader networks, educate themselves,
and then impart their newfound knowledge to their mentees. In many cases, they
will connect their mentees with someone they think can provide the information
they need.
Be empathetic
A crucial component of the overall
connection is placing oneself in the mentee's shoes. Effective mentors
demonstrate empathy throughout the course of the relationship. While giving
counsel, coaching, and guidance, it is crucial to continually assess the
mentee's condition and feel its effects. Without this comprehension, any type
of criticism or direction may come off as inconsistent, irrational, and
frequently unworkable.
Final
Thoughts
Developing
into a wonderful mentor is undoubtedly a difficult task. But the rewards
increase with further work and application. The satisfaction of seeing someone
achieve and advance in life, as well as the knowledge that they have
contributed in some small manner to the person's advancement along that route,
is unmatched for any excellent mentor.
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