The Value of Mentoring

Mentoring is often an underestimated way to help individuals grow and develop their skills. Mentoring is not just about career development, but the development of the whole person having a positive influence on their life. 

Larger companies use mentoring programmes to help employees progress in their careers and often into leadership roles. According to data gathered for world mentoring day*, 71% of fortune 500 companies use a mentoring programme with 84% of CEO’s in formal mentoring programmes said mentors had helped them avoid costly mistakes and become proficient in their roles. Further data from a study in 2019, the supply-demand for mentors/mentees was imbalanced: while more than 75% of professional men and women want to have a mentor, only 37% have one. 

Not-for-profit organisations often have many volunteers and a mentoring programme can really help with empowering them to make progress improving the lives of others. From the board to the volunteers a well planned and structured mentoring programme will not only improve the work the organisation delivers but also position the organisation in a positive way.

“With a well-built programme, your non-profit can put its best foot forward and make powerful strides toward its mission.” Jeb Banner

Universities are another place where mentoring is highly valued. Many universities encourage industry professionals to mentor final year students to help prepare them for the job market. Later in this article I share my story of participating in one of these programmes.

Mentoring is also really important if you are a business owner/entrepreneur. You only need to look around the business community to see lots of business networking groups which also offer some form of individual or group mentoring.

Benefits of mentoring

There are many benefits of mentoring for both the mentor and the mentee. For the mentor here are a few ways in which mentoring can be a positive experience: 

• Satisfaction and personal growth from helping others
• Developing mentoring skills such as active listening, providing feedback, asking skills
• Gaining a new perspective on challenges and opportunities

As a mentor it’s not just about what you say but it's about your behaviour - what you do more than what you say. You are a role model for your mentee.

The benefits for the mentee are also invaluable:

• Guidance and support
• Safe space to share ideas
• Widening personal network
• Build confidence
• Setting and achieving goals with support from an experienced person

Experience as a Mentor

For 2 years I volunteered as a mentor for undergraduates at the University of Western Australia. The two experiences were very different. The first student was keen to learn, took the initiative and turned up to all our sessions. At the start of the relationship we explored her innate gifts, aptitudes, personality characteristics, and passions. 

Most younger people have limited self-awareness about how they are uniquely “wired.” Without this perspective it is easy for them to respond to what others believe they should “be”. Asking your mentee to take advantage of personal assessment tools such as Strengths Finder and Talent Dynamics can be really helpful, and discussing the results with them and how much/little they relate to the results.

I was very happy to introduce my mentee to one of my clients and bring her along to the office where she spent a week working alongside me on a project. She has gone on to enjoy a career in an area she loves and is currently a senior consultant for a renewable energy company.

The second student turned up for coffee, once and then we never managed to get a mutually convenient time to meet up again and that’s as far as the mentoring relationship went. It’s important that the mentee takes the initiative in the relationship and really wants to commit to the process and relationship. 

My Experience of Mentoring

The final area where mentoring provides invaluable support and growth is as an entrepreneur or small business owner. This is especially important when you are starting out or wanting to grow/scale your business. I have been part of a global business mentoring group with the GeniusU team for the last 18 months. I have learnt many things from hearing the stories of how others have approached building their teams to learning from the mistakes others have made. It also provides accountability as you share your goals and get guidance when things don’t go according to plan!

Mentoring is a great way to increase your confidence and develop new skills with the help of someone who is experienced and willing to share. Becoming a mentor is one of the best things I have done, learning much from my mentee, and this is why it is included in the ‘Unleash Your Inner Superpowers’ programme. If you are offered the opportunity to either become a mentor or mentee I would highly recommend it.

If you are interested in finding out more about the programme visit my website or connect with me on LinkedIn.