In my last article we listed the qualities of a new generation leader. But new gen leaders do require mentoring and training. Today’s article focuses on the qualities that make a good mentor.
Now that you're more established and comfortable in your professional career, it's time to pay it back to the new generation. Your journey can inspire and guide young leaders, and a rewarding next step is to become a good mentor. Being a mentor also provides an extremely important transfer of knowledge within your organization so that the next generation doesn't spend valuable time doing what you've already accomplished.
Being a good mentor, you provide a sounding board for future leaders to learn from your prior experience so that they can make better and informed decisions in similar scenarios.
I have listed below some of the most important characteristics of a mentor which will supplement in your journey to becoming a good mentor.
Good Listeners
The most mentioned and appreciated characteristic of a highly effective mentor is that they are a good listener. It means they stop talking, not because they’re thinking about what they want to say next, but because they want to learn from what their mentee has to say. A good mentor will pay attention and show that they have listened to what their mentee has said.
Committed to Mentoring
It’s a two-way street. Mentoring is not a “when I get time” activity. It relies on planning and making time and that requires dedication and commitment much like any other job. Unless both parties are committed to making it work, the relationship will not grow and develop into full fruition.
Encourage to come out of the Comfort Zone
All people have a comfort zone in which they operate and live in. To excel, one needs to step outside of their comfort zone to be able to have new experiences and learn. A good mentor can identify the comfort zone and helps to develop steps and goals that will force you to become comfortable outside of your zone.
Share Knowledge and Experience
A good mentor shares their knowledge and experience so their mentees can learn from them. And they share it willingly and with passion. The mentee can then apply those lessons to their own situation. That knowledge may be related to the role, the function, the organization or the industry. Or it may be real world knowledge. Mentors can also help mentees identify gaps in their skill set so they develop the right skills needed to succeed.
Are Non-Judgmental
One of the most important skills of being an effective mentor is the ability to listen and withhold judgment. This is key to a good mentor.
And finally, remember that you can learn something, too. Some of the most fruitful mentor-mentee relationships occur when each party shares their perspective, regardless of who is the mentor. No matter who your mentee is, they may have different experiences, perspectives, and skills. A successful mentorship is both give and take, and mentors should keep this in mind to maximize the success of the relationship.
Happy Mentoring!!
Very true what you describe here. I’ve an pro-bono initiative where I charge my Mentees or Coachees with one currency : grow personally and professionally. Get ready to give back on your turn in the future. Please visit my home page to understand further my Mentoring approach. https://www.linkedin.com/company/âmycosmentoring I will share this article in my Mentoring page to get more people to visit your Space here. Thanks for taking the time and writing such an amazing article. Keep it up.