Expand Your Capacity to Mentor in January: National Mentoring Month

Mentoring must not be complicated, intensive, a burden, or weighty. A mentoring relationship in the workplace can create a sense of belonging and increase confidence and engagement while expediting acclimation to the culture and critical stakeholders for tremendous success. In this article, I'd like to share with you how to fully integrate mentoring into your daily flow, providing substantial support and fulfillment to both the mentor and mentee.

The workplace has become sterile and impersonal because someone thought the organization would be more productive and profitable if everyone focused only on the task. The mindset that suggests you can be effective in business without considering or caring for the individuals you depend on to get the job done is not only passe but also entirely incorrect. Treating human beings as things or property is what fueled slavery. Let us stop the callous and harsh tactics in business and care equally for the members of our organizations as we do for our clients and customers who pay us for our products and services with the proper balance of emotions and business objectives. No one expects business leaders or partners to be their Pastor or Priest. We hope to be treated well, respectfully, and as essential team members with ideas to help the organization grow stronger. After all, everyone wins when the organization wins.

So, as a leader, how do you inspire others in a way that benefits the individual and the organization? For many, this is a tricky question when looking for inspiration. I have learned that as I help others in my greatest need, I find the help I seek. Below is a list of ways to inspire others. May you reap what you sow into the lives of those around you.

1.???Model the inspiration you aspire to evoke. You are always being watched. As you try to be your best self, let your reputation, character, and behavior speak well of you and inspire others to do the same.

2.???Be transparent in sharing your success, failures, and how you overcome disappointments while remaining consistent in your character and behavior. Your story is powerful and allows others to be human, also.

3.???Appeal to core values. A benefit to getting to know your team members well is that you learn what they value most in every situation. Whatever you are trying to get them to comply with must be consistent with the core values significant to the person.

4.???Relinquish control over how the idea is brought to life, or the assignment is completed. People are inspired when you share what you want and give them free rein to deliver the finished product or outcome. It would be best if you believed in the people around you.

5.???Offer new stretch opportunities. We are excited when we can learn new skills, accomplish more goals, and achieve success in areas we have yet to consider. Great leaders present challenges that stretch and allow us to evolve into something more than we ever imagine. Routine is overrated and dulls the senses.

I would much rather assume that everyone on my team wants to accomplish great and mighty things in life, including what they contribute to my organization, instead of thinking they are just here for a paycheck. Even if feeding a family, maintaining housing, or covering the cost of medication is the motivation for someone joining my team, I am committed to them getting much more than what they expected. I encourage you to aspire to leave people better off than you found them. Let the individual determine what 'better off' looks like but commit to helping them define and reach real, meaningful success.

To learn more about my work, visit www.DestinySpeak.com or message me on LinkedIn if you'd like to hear more about the topics in which I speak, the Training and Development programs I offer, and how I can help your key players successfully navigate change, retain talent, and build teams.