Mentoring reveals the REAL You

Mentoring is held in high regard but not well understood by many people.

A Dictionary would define the role as being an Adviser or Guide and of course it is but definitions can never capture the “spirit” of the task.

Advice and guidance can raise awareness but a Mentor needs to create the right motivation to establish a person’s confidence in what they want or need to achieve.

It may be as simple as “proving” why they should have more confidence in themselves.

A Mentor does not begin by giving advice because they need to get to know the person first.

Empathy is vital when undertaking to help someone and patronising words will never build a foundation for progress.

It takes constructive criticism as well as convincing compliments to get a person’s trust.

The quality of the Mentor is vital since good instruction of a student will influence them to mirror the teacher.

Without trust there will never be advancement.

An honest relationship is reassuring but it cannot be switched off.

A Mentor responds to any need that arises by being available.

The idea is not to make decisions for anyone but to train a person to weigh the facts and then not shy away from making a choice and taking action.

A Mentor is not a Social Worker but is an effective listener in order to communicate a relevant response.

It’s a hugely satisfying role in which you forge lasting friendships and see that friend achieve more than they ever thought possible.

Whether young or middle aged, anyone can benefit from Mentoring.

Directors of Companies sometimes find it hard because they have learned to be confident in themselves but those brave enough to embrace it become the best in their profession because they are “reinforced”.

Some make the mistake of providing a task to a Mentor when they have already anticipated the outcomes.

I have worked with staff believed to be “great who weren’t and others believed to be “deadwood” when they weren’t either.

At times we form an opinion and then reinforce it through a favoured interaction but a Mentor is impartial.

Mentoring does not favour anyone but responds to the Individual to harness the very best of themselves, at times with remarkable results.

Never make the mistake that a person who seems confident on the outside always feel the same on the inside.

Never to suffer doubts would suggest you think too much of yourself or you enjoy the delusion.

The trick is to be balanced in knowing your strengths and weaknesses.

A Mentor will help you manage both to maximise your potential...and yes your weaknesses are safe with us.