National Mentoring Day

Today is a day to encourage interactive dialogs and display the benefits of being a mentor and being mentored. National Mentoring Day started in 2014 with a key message to raise awareness of the invaluable and rewarding contributions that mentor makes to their recipient’s life. For those looking for a mentor, continue searching because mentors enable their mentees to achieve higher compensation, faster salary growth, increased promotions, increased job satisfaction and greater commitment to the organization.

 To the multitude of mentors recognized on this day, the benefits of mentoring are numerous. Mentors often have higher job satisfaction, stronger personal relationships, loyalty of supporters, and mentoring others allows for one’s own growth.

Both Anthony Tjan and Dr. Joyce Russell provide the following guidelines to becoming a better mentor.

 1. Put the relationship first. Set realistic expectations and goals in the mentorship relationship. Create short wins and celebrate successes to keep everyone motivated.

2. Character comes before competency. Share your own experiences and lessons learned instead of telling them what they should or should not do. Push them out of their comfort zone and always circle back to see what they have done. Maintain shared information in a confidential manner.

 3. Cheer with optimism, minimize cynicism. Listen and act as a sounding board by paying attention to their concerns, questions, or frustrations. Provide constructive feedback with examples on how to effectively change or alter behavior.

4. Loyalty to your mentee comes before your company. Take a genuine interest in them and grow a strong relationship built on trust. Demonstrate this by sharing your network and introducing them to professional colleagues. Stand up and advocate through sponsoring a mentor in promotions.

 Author Anthony Tjan, aptly stated that, “the best mentors avoid overriding the dreams of their mentees.” People who effectively mentor maintain a strong desire for others to excel. Those who work to inspire, share, and use their skills to increase the advancement of others receive an unpaid compensation in return. The investment in mentoring others is valuable and lasting.

About the Author

Candice E. Frost is an active duty Colonel in the United States Army and the Director of Foreign Intelligence for the United States Army G-2. She is also the owner of Colonel Candid LLC, a business consulting company on leadership and mentorship. All viewpoints are her own and do not reflect those of the United States government.