BECOME A BETTER MENTOR
Mentoring is essential to becoming a successful leader.
Far too many leaders don’t invest the needed time and energy in mentoring, It is seen as a less important part in being in control, which is something I definitely disagree with.
If you do not mentor, you will be holding back your coworkers which will ultimately hold you back as well. Mentoring is crucial to achieving success.
Managing, or bossing someone around, actually does nothing to help anybody. Management gets things done, but that’s simply just the job. However, mentoring your people will take your performance to a different level.
Mentoring will lead you to further success and drive you past expectation. If you’re able to achieve this with the people you work with, you’re a definite leader.
So, here are things that you must do to mentor better...
FOLLOW YOUR OWN ADVICE
This one is easy. Follow what you tell others to do. If you act as someone’s mentor, but don’t have one yourself, then what does that say about you? A mentor is great for anybody regardless of their position in a workplace. The experience and knowledge they give you is great to have and use. And your mentor could even be a part of your peer group.
BE CLEAR
Make sure that you are really clear about what you are mentoring for and what it is that you want to achieve. Mentoring is all about helping change and grow, while setting up opportunities for growth in the future. Make sure to not have unclear discussions, stay clear and precise.
LISTEN UP
This is not an exercise to show how much you know and how wise you are. You must pay close attention and listen carefully – to not only what is being said but also what is not being said. Ask about the points being made, and make sure you have a good understanding. Listen carefully to EVERYTHING mentioned, not just the first few words. Listen to the tone and the inflection, and watch the body language.
DO IT ROUTINELY
This one is pretty much a given. However, these discussions are frequently the ones that get dumped when the pressure on time arises. You have to prove that you really care – and committing to regular mentoring sessions demonstrates that commitment.
GIVE YOURSELF OVER
Give your time, give your counsel, give your emotions and be involved. Basically just give yourself as a whole. The more that you give of yourself, the greater the impact. People are bound to forget things that you’ve said and done, but they won’t forget how you made them feel. Mentoring gives you the opportunity to make a person and mold them into who they want to be – and for that they will never forget you for it.
BE THE MODEL
You simply cannot be a mentor and ignore your own advice. You must do it all, especially what you are telling others to do. Giving an example to those who you are mentoring is the main part. This is a challenge for us all, but real mentors live up to it and fulfill it.
Frankly, mentoring can be one of the most rewarding roles you can play, especially done properly. We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.
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About the Author: Lalanii Wilson-Jones, MBA is a dynamic business leader based in Dallas, Texas who owns & operates multiple companies across several industries. Her range of talents and experience makes her an ideal candidate for strong economic partnerships all over the world, a great mentor and a great source of information that can change the mechanics of any sized company.
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