A mentor’s job is to help the mentee achieve his or her objectives. While the mentor can benefit greatly from educating and leading others, the mentor-mentee connection should be oriented on the mentee. As a result, the mentor should listen to the mentee, guide him, and even challenge him to achieve his best in his profession.
For the communication channel to remain open, the mentorship programme demands frequent contact between the mentor and the mentee. Mentoring is a two-way relationship in which both parties may help the other improve as a person. Mentoring is not the same as therapy, and it is not the same as being friends, because mentoring is a tool for both personal and professional development.
Mentoring, both formal and informal
Without enrolling in a mentoring programme, anyone can be a mentor or mentee. For example, simply taking the bus and then speaking with a stranger might be considered mentoring if you learn something useful from him; this style of mentoring is referred to as informal mentoring. Even if it doesn’t happen on purpose, informal mentoring can be just as valuable as a formal mentoring programme.
Formal mentoring, on the other hand, is defined as a formalised relationship between the mentor and the mentee. Formal mentorship would include a time and effort commitment from both parties in order for them to share and learn from each other. This form of coaching can be for a specific project or for a set amount of time.
Identifying a Mentor
It’s definitely a fact that having the incorrect mentor is worse than having no mentor at all. As a result, everyone should devote time and effort to finding a mentor who is a good fit for their requirements, personality, and learning style. You must examine yourself and your surroundings, and then ask yourself what you truly want to learn. Before choosing a mentor, you should often think about the following questions:
• Would the mentor give me accurate and useful information?
• Would he help me achieve my objectives and goals?
• Would he appreciate my aspirations, decisions, and life goals?
• Would he be willing to confront me if the situation demanded it?
• Can the mentor be relied upon?
• Am I willing to consider this mentor’s thoughts and ideas?
Asking these questions before enrolling in a mentoring programme is critical if you want to get the most out of it. It’s also crucial that you and your mentor have open lines of communication. Even before you begin the mentoring programme, you must explain your objectives and goals so that the mentor knows which path to take.
The Mentoring Program is Coming to an End
All wonderful things, however, must come to an end. You can’t stay in the mentoring programme indefinitely; while you can still speak with your mentor from time to time, committing to be each other’s mentor and mentee after the mentoring programme finishes can feel more like a responsibility than a luxury.
Both parties should express gratitude for what they have learnt and for the time and effort they have invested in the other’s well-being. Even after the mentoring programme is over, the mentor can continue to support and be available to the mentee.
