How can you stay ahead of the curve with mentoring?

As the adage says, "start with the end in mind." If you can identify the things you are curious about or interested in learning or the types of people who you would genuinely like to get to know it can help focus your efforts when you start engaging with a mentor.

By thoroughly understanding your learning objectives, career aspirations, personal interests, strengths, weaknesses, and preferred communication styles, you can effectively align yourself with mentors or mentees who complement your goals and needs. This intentional matching process enhances the potential for mutual growth, valuable exchanges, and meaningful mentorship experiences.

Agree aligning brains/thoughts is key. You can only do this if you first quiet your own mind (relax-central-detach), expect the best in observations and others by staying curious will allow you to make less judgemental feedback/thoughts which will then be replaced by a more thought provoking inquiry = positive feedback on shared goals. Being specific is also key, too many times I hear ‘that’s good’, be specific in your description shows you are actively listening and are focused (shining a spot light) in on the small steps in improving your client and are aware of what is important to your clients beliefs (personally & professionally). Creating momentum through praise only serves to reinforce engagement towards shared goals.

Do a SWOT analysis on yourself and understand areas that you need mentoring, list them by which ones you need the most in your current job vs your long term career and focus on them by the list. This will make it easy for you to identify the right mentors and you will be successful.

For a successful mentoring relationship, one should define his/ her goals and specific needs, find a mentor who has the skills and experience one want to learn, communicate clearly and regularly, seek honest feedback, and show appreciation and gratitude. One of the most influential mentoring relationships was between Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg. Steve Jobs mentored Zuckerberg on how to build a lasting company and how to deal with the pressures of being a CEO. They had a mutual respect and admiration for each other, and Zuckerberg considered Jobs as a role model. Another example is Oprah Winfrey and Maya Angelou. Oprah Winfrey was mentored by Maya Angelou. Oprah credited Angelou for inspiring her to be more compassionate and courageous.

Selecting the appropriate mentoring model and framework enables you to tailor the mentoring experience to your specific needs and objectives. By leveraging these tools, you can establish clear expectations, create a structured framework for growth, and optimize the outcomes of the mentoring relationship for both the mentor and mentee.

Active solicitation of feedback and evaluation from mentors, mentees, and other sources allows for continuous growth and improvement as a mentor or mentee. This valuable input serves as a catalyst for self-reflection, adjustment, and refinement of mentoring strategies, leading to enhanced effectiveness and overall satisfaction in the mentoring relationship.

Embracing diversity and inclusion in mentoring relationships fosters a rich and dynamic learning environment, promoting mutual understanding, empathy, and growth. By actively seeking diverse perspectives and challenging preconceived notions, mentors and mentees can expand their horizons, promote inclusivity, and gain valuable insights that lead to personal and professional development.

Utilizing technology and resources in mentoring opens up new possibilities for connectivity, knowledge sharing, and skill development. By embracing online platforms, tools, and educational materials, mentors and mentees can transcend geographical boundaries, access a wealth of resources, and engage in interactive and efficient mentoring experiences, ultimately maximizing their potential for growth and success.

Adapting to the Mentee’s needs is key! Nowadays, Mentees move for different motives and need to seek progress in different ways. Adapting to a changing society and needs of its new protagonists.

I became interested in mentoring several years ago and did a presentation to staff of my institute. Initially there was apprehension about it but now it has become institutionalized. It is essential for an organization to use it as an instrument of keeping institutional memory since staff keep on moving either via retirement or simply want to move to another organization. Rules of engagement have to be agreed between the mentor and his/ her mentees. It is essential to comply with them. If it succeds the rate of turn over of staff will be significantly reduced. Every organization should make it a point of duty to have a mentoring programme because of its usefulness. I have internalized numerous skills via mentoring, which i stll find useful