It’s not often in life that someone will ask for your help to mentor him or her in whatever issues they face. However when it happens, it’s more of an opportunity for you than it is for the other person. Because this is a moment in time when leaders drastically improve and grow in their lifelong journeys.
Having said that, how can you ensure that your mentorship journey is as smooth sailing as possible? Like your mentee, you will have challenges to face as well. And the first thing you can do is…
Understand His or Her Objectives
Everything that happens in life has a purpose to it, and the same goes with your mentee seeking help. You may possess the most genuine of hearts to help others, and it will turn into complete disaster if you misunderstand his or her needs.
Don’t let your excitement get the better of you, and take the necessary time to find out more about your mentee’s objectives. An amateur ballerina may ask for your help in ballet lessons with the intention of impressing a lover, and the last thing you want to do is push her too hard by instead assuming that she wants to be the world’s number one ballerina who ever lived.
Save yourself the trouble, and make sure both of you understand each other’s needs. You heard that. This isn’t a one way street, as he or she also needs to understand what you’re expecting out of this mentorship session.
Once everyone’s on the same boat, it’s time to…
Carefully Share Your Thoughts
I want to emphasise that when you give feedback to your mentee’s performance, be very mindful of how you deliver it. Everyone will react differently to what you say, and what’s a constructive advice can represent judgment day for another.
Learn up on how to give constructive criticisms, and they’ll thank you for it. There’s no right or wrong when it comes to how you deliver a satisfied comment or the other way around, and you’ll need to take many risks with your mentee before figuring out the best way he or she develops with you.
As long as your mentee gains something from you without feeling abused, you’re on the right track. And after receiving your feedback, always remember this…
Don’t Devalue Someone for Not Listening
What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? Nothing, and there will be times when your mentee doesn’t listen to you. All your efforts of trying to advice him or her goes to waste, and there’s no turning back from it.
When you mentor someone, a huge chunk of your time will be gone. You could’ve done something else which is far more productive than helping your mentee out, and constantly thinking about that can negatively affect the relationship between you two.
Do your utmost best to avoid devaluing that person for not listening, even though it can be the easiest act to express. Doing so would only damage the relationship between you two, perhaps even to the point when friendship is affected as well.
You must realise early on, that mentoring someone is an act of contribution. Much like charity, it’s either a one-way street or a two-way street. Would you look down on an orphan for not accepting the free t-shirts you donated?
What Should We Keep in Mind from This?
Mentoring someone can be tough to excel at, especially when we have trouble with balancing honesty and care. What can you do to improve the situation?
- Understand his or her objectives, and make sure that the same respect is given to you.
- Carefully share your thoughts, as everyone will respond to your comments differently.
- Don’t devalue someone for not listening, as mentoring someone is a selfless act from you.
Never be afraid of making mistakes as a mentor, because you’re a mentee to someone else too.
May you find this blog post a simple and effective read. If yes, do spread the knowledge to your family and friends by sharing it on Facebook and / or Twitter.
Cheers!
AARON HOR 