Why Mentoring Is Your Best Investment

As we wrap up Teacher Appreciation Week, it reminded me to take a minute to appreciate the people who influenced my life and career thus far. I’ve been fortunate enough to have strong mentors to guide me through some important life decisions—from how to leave a job that was making me miserable, to deciding if I should go back to school, to helping me get over my fear of networking with strangers. My mentors helped open doors to my personal and professional growth by helping me make an investment in my career goals, as well as an active investment in myself. Everyone can have an experience like mine—you just have to take that first step.

There are many benefits to having a mentor for both people involved. For the mentee, a good mentor will provide valuable feedback, challenge boundaries, and encourage growth—ultimately leading the mentee to reach their goals. Mentors are great as sounding boards, actively listening, and guiding mentees toward the best course of action. Mentors expose mentees to fresh perspectives, ideas, and approaches to life. They can help reduce the anxiety over decision-making and boost confidence. Often mentors can help identify emerging talents that the mentee might not recognize on their own. Finally, a mentor’s recognition can encourage others to perceive the mentee as a subject matter expert and leader within their organization.

Mentoring is the perfect opportunity to share your knowledge base, expertise, and life experiences with someone open to learning. Through coaching, a mentor can develop their leadership and management skills, helping further establish their coaching style. Some tangible benefits for mentors include increased visibility as a leader within their organization, improved communication skills, and an extended network of younger, fresher professionals. Mentoring allows you to learn more about your business and industry at all levels, by connecting you with people in different places along their career path. Mentors can also reflect on their own career and personal goals—adjusting their methods to continuously grow.

Remember—a mentor can be anyone! Try to think outside the box when making your list of possible mentors. Here are a few qualities to look for:

• A mentor should help you achieve goals and improve your overall performance, by giving you honest feedback, holding you accountable, and supporting you.

• A good mentor doesn’t have to be someone you work with directly. They should, however, be someone you respect. A good mentor should offer a valuable perspective because they are someone you respect and can easily communicate with.

• The most effective mentors are ones who actively listen, while interpreting and understanding the mentee’s ideas better.

• Mentors lead by example through building credibility and translating objectives (both tangible and intangible) into reality.

• Mentors are visionaries. They have a good understanding of the “big picture” and know how to express that to their audiences.

A good mentoring relationship, however, involves both parties meeting regularly to exchange ideas, discuss progress, and set achievable goals. Don’t forget there is a give and take. Good luck in your search!