Key Traits that Make A Great Mentor

The age-old debate as to whether a leader is born or made has never been definitively settled, and it’s likely to remain that way. Are some people just fundamentally wired to excel when it comes to guiding others? Or do those personality traits emerge as you carve out your experience over decades in the arena??

At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how these qualities arise. What matters is that, as a mentor, you’re able to forge an impactful connection with your protege at a crucial juncture in their professional lives. In order to make the most out of your mentorship experience, you need to have a specific subset of qualities.?

According to the Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, workplace mentoring “includes relationships that are arranged as a part of an organizationally sanctioned program and those that are developed spontaneously based on mutual attraction, admiration by a potential protege, and perceived “coachability” by a potential mentor.” These important relationships can occur up, down, and across the organizational hierarchy or, as is increasingly the case, are fostered between an employee and outside professional. When it comes time to form a mentoring relationship with another person, there are key traits to consider that will ensure the mentorship experience is as beneficial as possible. Below are some of the major personality facets that can make you a great mentor.

Knowledgeable?

This is, without a doubt, the most important trait of a quality mentor. In order to provide your mentee with the support and guidance they need, you must have extensive knowledge within the domain they are navigating. Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ve completed multiple degrees or obtained your Ph.D. (although, in some cases, that helps.) It’s more likely the case that you’ve built an intimate understanding of the procedural, social, and organizational practices necessary to succeed in a professional environment. This understanding can often take decades to accumulate and, by passing it down to the next generation, will serve as an invaluable asset for both your mentee and the organization as a whole.?

Strong Communicator

Having extensive experience and a willingness to share it is all well and good, but it becomes a moot point if you are unable to convey this knowledge to your mentee effectively. Having the ability to speak in a clear and accessible manner is crucial to achieving a meaningful relationship with those who wish to learn from you. Equally important is the ability to listen. Young professionals are often bursting at the seams with questions and concerns - about work, life, and everything in between. By allowing them the space to communicate at their own pace and even seeking out those long awkward pauses that precede a critical breakthrough, you ensure that your protege is given the opportunity to grow.?

Respect?

No leader has ever achieved long-term success without the ability to conduct themselves in a respectful manner. The most effective mentors understand that they are gaining just as much from the experience as their protege, and relational dynamic needs to be structured in a way that reflects this. By demonstrating that you see yourself on the same level as those around you, be they peers, teammates, or proteges, you foster the trusting environment that success mentorship requires.??

Honesty

Without honesty, the desired growth you’re looking for during the mentorship experience is impossible. And this is a two-way street. Not only do you need to be honest about the skill level, situation, and career prospects of your mentee, but it’s also important that you turn a critical lens on yourself as well. Mentorship is not an opportunity to rewrite history or share self-promoting stories about all the good times you had back in the day. In fact, it’s generally some of your most embarrassing failures and weak moments that will provide the most benefit to your protege.?

Openness?

In order to be a strong mentor, you need to be the kind of person who seeks out and excels in novel environments, relationships, and organizations. Mentors thrive in situations where learning is crucial to success - it’s part of the reason that they became successful in their respective fields in the first place. This also proves helpful while navigating your relationship with the mentee. Your excitement and enthusiasm to engage with the young professional will be the catalyst that ignites their professional and personal growth.?

At the end of the day, ensuring that you have the proper personality trait and temperament is essential for business leaders who wish to mentor and guide the next generation of professionals. MentorCloud provides the optimal digital solution for experienced individuals looking to improve engagement and a host of other work-related factors. Reach out to us today for a demonstration of how our mentorship platform assists you on the journey to impart your wisdom and skill set!