The Importance of Having a Mentor

Other people affect us, and naturally rub off on us.

Indeed, your peers can be so influential that well-known US entrepreneur and author Jim Rohn was moved to say:

“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with."

In other words, if you mix regularly with five successful individuals, you will most likely become the sixth!

This is just one of the benefits of having good role models or mentors, in your life.

In a recent article on The Balance website, US management and leadership expert F. John Reh explains how the long-term impact of mentoring can be both life and career changing.

Reh describes how his mentor helped him to develop as a leader, a strategist, and a complete business professional.

However, Reh is quick to point out his mentor did not coach him or tell him what to do.

Instead he challenged him, and encouraged him to think things through before making a decision.

He offered him wisdom and to use Aristotle's words, encouraged him to ‘ignite the talent’.

To explain this further, the Greek philosopher Aristotle believed every person has talent inside him or her; but it often lies dormant.

A great mentor is someone who can reach in and release that hidden talent.

And while being an excellent source of wisdom, teaching, and support: a mentor is very different to a coach.

Coaching involves someone who advises on specific actions or behavioural changes in a person’s daily work, for a set period of time.

By contrast, mentoring is a long-term relationship where the focus is on supporting the growth and development of the mentee.

A generally accepted definition of a mentor is:

‘Someone who helps you with your career, specific work projects or general life advice out of the goodness of his or her heart.’

A mentor can play an important role in your life, with many organisations, including the Australian Institute of Management WA, having well-established mentoring programs.

A mentor can do many positive things for a person, including:

·     Take the ‘long view’ in terms of your development

·     Offer encouragement, but not how to do things

·     Provide you with a destination, but not the road map to get there.

To have a successful relationship with a mentor, it is important you allot plenty of time to both find and interact with that person.

And when you do interact, always be open and transparent by telling the mentor exactly where you are struggling or failing.

Also, do not expect him or her to give you specific advice or solve the problem for you.

You need to do that yourself by listening carefully to what they have to say, and then researching and applying their guidance.

And always remember to be grateful for their assistance, and to not expect any added political or other help from the organisation.

The mentor is there to give guidance and wisdom - not a ‘leg-up’ the organisational ladder.

Also, when choosing a mentor, it is usually best to look for someone with achievements that impress you.

They will most likely be someone you admire and respect - with a good track record and credibility – and especially in the field you are currently working in, or planning to work in.

He or she also needs to be someone who can make a commitment, and follow it through.

Ideally, he or she should have a good network of influencers, and be someone you feel comfortable with.

And they should be genuinely interested in you; and not just in ‘big noting’ themselves.

Finally, if you can find the right person, the impact of their guidance and wisdom will be felt for years to come.