Minimum Viable Mentoring: How can we support the next generation of talent?

Being a mentor has been valuable as it has helped me become a better leader. It's been a way to exchange my experiences to support others to make fewer mistakes and overcome adversities. In many cases, I am the one that is learning, as working with others helps me rethink how I look at problems.?

This post will focus on how I started to codify my experience and encounters with over 260+ mentees worldwide during a time when everything stood still and beyond (COVID-19).

As I spoke to more mentees from different backgrounds, ages and timezone, I understood a series of patterns of how to add value in a limited about of time. Often this would be 30 to 60 minutes of interacting with an individual and taking a specific process to support them in the best way possible. This post might be interesting if you are starting and mentoring others in an official and ad-hoc way.?

Making mentoring more than just a process??

Mentoring others is vital to my core beliefs!

Growing up, it was hard to find anyone to look up to. And help me on my journey to where I have come today. There have been some fantastic managers and leaders that have helped me along the way. However, I did not receive the level of mentoring or advisor that is available now from the various platforms and programmes.?

Mentoring someone can be manifested in many ways. There needs to be trust from the mentees to open up and give the mentor enough information to help them solve the problem they are facing.?

As a mentor, I need to check my ego and push past the thought that I know everything. Coming to a session thinking that you know the answers to a mentee's problems can be damaged and worsen the situation. Always think to yourself, have you created value or more volatility as a mentor?

"My mentees are my mentors; I learn much from them as a leader. Which helps me rethink my own biases and approach to the world" - Deb Mills-Scofield?

The great thing about helping others is that you learn simultaneously. Any advice or mentor you share creates a new mindset to reframe how you view situations that can impact your life. You are learning about the mentees' experience and expanding your knowledge base; this perspective can help you go forward in your life and shape your thinking in the future.??

MVM Pyramid

1. Trust

We must remember that relationships are two-way when finding a mentor or mentee. It is essential to find ways to build connections before giving them advice. This can come in many ways, such as showing vulnerability. This goes beyond just repeating your professional bio to who you are advising. Any good mentee has actively searched for you and knows what you do best.?

Opening up and sharing my experiences when starting a decade can create relatability in our conversation. Expressing why being a mentor (see above) is essential to me and that this is a safe space to discuss their problems. As well as have access to my experience and insights to help them as much as possible.??

The relationship between a mentor and a mentee should be built on trust. Being a trusted advisor who only wants to help and work with the mentee for the best outcome. This involves ensuring that any information shared in a session is confidential.?

Trust is essential when building relationships as a mentor because it creates a safe and open environment for the mentee to share their thoughts and ideas. Without trust, the mentee may not feel comfortable sharing their vulnerabilities or asking for help, which can impede the development of the mentorship relationship. Trust also allows the mentee to take risks and try new things without fear of judgement or failure, which can foster personal and professional growth. Additionally, a mentee who trusts their mentor is more likely to take their advice and guidance to heart, which can lead to meaningful progress and development.

2. Active listening?

"If speaking is silver, listening is gold" - Turkish Proverb.

Starting a conversation with "How can I help" can quickly shift a session as the mentee becomes more empowered to expand on any situation they are facing that goes beyond what they originally wanted to discuss. Getting to the root of many issues can take time. Open and probing questions can help a mentee better articulate what they might be really facing.?

General advice to review a design portfolio or how to test a new revenue stream for their business. Could pivot towards a more meaningful conversation around why they started in the first place and what value they would like to create in the future for their industry. It's not always the case; creating an inviting space for transparent and non-judgemental conversations helps create more meaningful dialogues.?

Whether a session lasts 30 minutes or 2 hours, the session needs to 100% be focused on what the mentee needs and give your full attention to their needs—turning off any notifications and distractions. It is not rare for some sessions to go over time as the conversations are so rich and can go deeper into a situation. Taking the time to repeat what has been said by paraphrasing what the mentee has said ensures that you understand their perspective and show that you were listening.

Often there are occasions when mentees have much they want to get off their chest. This can end up with a conversation initially focused on one area becoming a word salad of challenges they face. By repeating what you have heard and adding empathy to ensure you care about the mentee. By being in their shoes. Show that you care about their feelings using phrases such as "I understand how you feel" or "That must have been difficult."

3. Sharable experiences?

Nobody is perfect in life, and everyone starts from somewhere to become great by sharing failures and projects that have not worked out. Many people see my LinkedIn profile and achievements over the years. I applied for over 100 jobs before I got my first industry role in 2012. And I have been rejected many times for opportunities to help my business grow. Expanding on issues the experienced mentor has faced can create a level of reflection and help the mentee learn from past situations.?

There is a misconception when it comes to having the answer to everything. It is a privilege to say that "you don't know everything", and that is ok. There have been instances where mentees have asked me for specific advice. I am confident enough to say that I don't know, as it is not my area of expertise. However, being able to share what you do know and supporting mentees in the areas you know based on your experience.??

If you get out of mentoring, all there is to get out of mentoring; you'll never get out of being a mentor.

4. Collective understanding?

Two heads are better than one!

Sessions sometimes go differently than planned. And to be honest, at the end of a long day. You might not have the energy to spend your evening listening to someone else's problems. The funny thing about mentoring is that working through complex ideas with someone with a different experience and background creates new ways of framing issues. Mentoring others comes down to applying a fresh perspective to an issue or leveraging different experiences by asking questions the mentee may not have considered. This can unearth hidden opportunities just by taking some time to talk to someone that does not have all the context of a situation.?

Providing impartial advice can make a difference and build trust as a mentor. I have nothing to gain from the outcome. Often at the end of the sessions, I have learnt something new that could enrich my life.??

With everything in life, mentoring can solve many problems, but not everything; setting clear boundaries and maintaining appropriate limitations has supported making sessions more professional. It's important to know when your role as a mentor starts and ends. You are not a consultant or psychologist, and it's always best to leave those jobs to the professionals ??.??

In brief, move away from unsolicited advice and areas not in your experts.

5. Actionable advice?

I have taken a chapter from the book "Radical Candor" by Kim Scott. There is a process to advise, so talent advice that can help them succeed long-term. Based on my experience over the years, I worked for all types of managers. And like a bad experience in a restaurant, you always remember the terrible manager more than the good. No one wants to be someone else's bad experience. The common theme I noticed in my experience was uncensored honesty. This has been critical to developing my style when speaking to mentees.?

At the end of any session, the ability to summarise what was just discussed to ensure the mentee is confident with what has been discussed is a great way to conclude any session. If this is an ongoing relationship, you can follow up with an email with actions and supporting resources. This can be a clear roadmap to support the mentee in reaching their goals and overcoming challenges.?

"We can talk about the problem, do something about the problem, or we can do both" - Debbie Millman.?

Another method can involve taking 5 or 10 minutes at the end to capture commits and summarise the session. It can be easier for you and the mentee to feel great after a session. However, if there are no clear next steps, knowing what they will take away or action in the future might become challenging.?

6. Reflection time (Next step)

From a mentor or mentee's perspective, reflecting on the session experience is always essential. In our mind, there is always an expectation before we start our journeys as a mentor, and things might not start or end as we imagine, for better or worse. Reflecting and thinking before taking the next step gives the mentee an understanding of the best next move to take so they can overcome any challenges they face.?

Celebrating little successes and reflecting on situations are integral to personal and professional growth. Acknowledging and celebrating small accomplishments is essential, as they can help build momentum and motivation to achieve bigger goals. Reflecting on situations can also help identify areas for improvement and help the mentee learn from their experiences.?

Encourage your mentee to take a few minutes each day or week to reflect on their successes and failures and to celebrate their accomplishments, no matter how small they may seem. This will help them stay motivated and focused and will ultimately lead to greater success in the long run.

Life long journey?

"If you get out of mentoring, all there is to get out of mentoring, you'll never get out of mentoring." - Anonymous.?

Although, I am still on a journey to support others, and there always seems to be more to learn. This experience will benefit me for a long time as the horizon of growth can be limitless by helping people find their potential and supporting them in understanding what path works for them. This continues to be the most fulfilling thing I have done in my career. When reflecting on my journey and the struggles I faced at the start and middle of my journey. It is always rewarding to help the next generation of talent.?

Mentorship is so important for all our professional and personal growth. Everyone should have the right to have access to mentors, no matter what stage they are in their journey.?