What do you do if you're a late career professional considering a mentoring role in your organization?

No need to over think it! You'll be a great mentor if you have: ???? A depth of career experience (think: highs and lows, achievements and failures) ???? A desire to give back ???? An ongoing commitment to professional development ???? Strong interpersonal skills ???? Availability and time commitment ??

Reflect on your own experiences and achievements, both personally and professionally. Have you acquired enough knowledge, skills, and expertise in a specific area to effectively mentor others? Are you open to sharing your knowledge, insights, and experiences with others? A willingness to impart wisdom and support others in their growth is essential for being an effective mentor. Assess your ability to communicate effectively and convey complex ideas or concepts in a clear and understandable manner. Strong communication skills are crucial for building rapport and fostering productive mentor-mentee relationships. Consider whether you possess empathy and patience to understand and support the needs and challenges of your mentees.

Understanding your own motivations is a great starting point to reflect on. Mentoring can be a rewarding experience that contributes to your own growth as a leader. Humbly entering a mentor-mentee relationship with curiosity and a desire to learn is a great starting point to maximize your own opportunity to use the experience for growth.

Take some time to get to know your mentee as a human being and not only within the context of their career. By building a deeper relationship, you will gain their trust but also enhance your ability to help them reach their goals.

Once you have built trust and an open rapport with your mentee. It’s time to offer constructive feedback on how to grow in their area of interest. This can take various forms including suggestions to build skills, gain experience, or simply instill confidence in your mentee to step outside their immediate comfort zone to increase their visibility and tackle new challenges. Part of growing, after all, is placing yourself in uncomfortable/unfamiliar situations that create learning opportunities.

That's the best way forward to utilize your years of experience. Pick up an area where you feel you can make a direct impact on business eg communication or leadership and then share your plans with the leadership and LnD team.

I think a great first step is to simply get the word out. You’d be surprised how many people are looking for mentors but can’t find one. Let people know you are ready to mentor if indeed you are. It’s going to take a bit of time to get traction and find that first mentee, but be patient. While you are waiting you may want to develop relationships and connect with other budding mentors who share your passion and desire. You’ll keep each other motivated and learning until that first mentee comes along. Hope this helps.