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Personal Advancement

Being a "Mannerful Mentor"

PART I: MASTERING MENTORSHIP

This inspirational three-part editorial focuses on the skills necessary to "make you experience someone else's education". Becoming a mentor, be it by choice, designation or assignment- is both a tremendous compliment and a great deal of responsibility. What is really involved?

LEWENA BAYER & KAREN MALLETT

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What does it mean to be a mentor? Who can be one? Who needs one? Mentor, mentorship, mentee, all these words seem to be getting a lot of exposure lately. Makes you wonder if the whole mentor thing is just another timely notion, a buzzword or corporate accessory that will fade away as quickly as the latest style in neckties?

Probably not, the idea of mentors has actually been around as early as Homer's Odyssey and more recently, "mentors" were even the topic of a Seinfeld episode.

So what is a mentor anyway? To some it's their first boss. Someone who took them under a wing and groomed them to climb the corporate ladder. To some it's a favorite teacher who gave them confidence and encouraged them to chase their dreams and to other's it's a perfect stranger-someone worshipped from afar who teaches through example and inspiration.

Stated simply, inspiration is the key when it comes to mentors. The whole idea of a mentor is having someone whom; by their actions, insights, experience or behaviors motivates you to be all you can be. Hopefully they save you some time and energy getting there too.

Who needs a mentor?

We all do! There isn't anyone who would not benefit personally or professionally from a little guidance, an experiential training session of sorts, from someone with a little more experience. The trick is finding someone who is willing and able to pass his or her experience on in a way that motivates and inspires. This can be a difficult task but it's well worth the trouble. A good mentor can empower you and pass a torch of wisdom that should burn long enough and bright enough to be passed on by you.

Who can be a mentor?

This is the hard part. Not just anyone can be a mentor, well almost anyone can try, but being an effective mentor is hard work. Anyone in a position of leadership with supervisory responsibilities who is required to lead by example and manage the work of other's could be "mentoring" without even knowing it. Inspirational leadership focuses on the skills necessary to "make your experience someone else's education". Becoming a mentor, be it by choice, designation or assignment- is both a tremendous compliment and a great deal of responsibility. Are you up to the challenge?

Being a "Mannerful Mentor"

If you are committed to making your experience someone else's education, there are a few things to consider. Leadership is about inspiration, but it's also about showing care and consideration- respect- for yourself and other's. Here are some tips from Canada'a etiquette ladies on handling the responsibilities of mentorship courteously;

Be sure. Be sure you have the time, energy and inclination to do the job properly. Examine your skills and make sure that your goals match those of the "mentee". Some mentoring relationships last a lifetime so be very sure you are willing to go the distance and that you know what the job of mentor entails.