The Benefits of Being a Mentor: A Win-Win Situation

Mentorship is a win-win situation. Mentors get to share their knowledge, experience and expertise with someone who is just starting their career, whilst mentees get to learn from someone who has already been there. Being a mentor can be a highly rewarding experience, both personally and professionally.

I recently dipped my toe back into the mentor waters after a few years of taking a bit of a back seat. I had forgotten how beneficial it was to have a mentee – it’s a whole different experience to having a direct report. In our initial meeting with my mentee, I had the opportunity to use my experience and expertise to offer guidance and support and to also reflect on the journey I’ve had in my career so far. Looking back to the choices I had made and thinking how differently I would have done things now with the years of experience under my belt.

There is no right or wrong time to become a mentor. You don’t have to have years of experience at the leadership helm to become one. Being an SME brings with it a wealth of knowledge that you can impart on to your mentee, and sometimes, just a different perspective is all that is needed to overcome challenges. In fact, being a mentor can help develop your leadership and management skills – you gain the necessary skills to lead and inspire others. You’ll also develop your communication and interpersonal skills by working with people from different backgrounds.

Being a mentor can be highly rewarding and fulfilling – the feeling of making a positive impact on someone’s life can be a great source of joy. We all have the power to inspire and change lives, and I have seen first-hand the transformative power of mentoring. I actively encourage everyone to consider taking on a mentorship role at some point in their career. Not only is it an opportunity to invest in the success of others, but it’s also a chance to invest in your own personal and professional growth.