When someone asks you to be their mentor, “no” might be the easiest answer to give. But think about it this way- you are in a position in your career someone is aiming for, you are a role model to them, they have the potential to grow, and they need your help. A little effort and time of yours can be life-changing for them. By saying “no”, you are not just refusing them to help in their career growth, but denying a golden opportunity to develop yourself too.
While you can have a lot of reasons to not involve in executive mentoring, there are always more reasons why you should become a mentor. Let’s take a look.
1. You Gain New Perspectives & Fresh Ideas
It’s very important to broaden your horizon for personal as well as career growth. Mentoring is a wonderful opportunity to step out and see the world through someone else’s eyes. When you meet a younger person, spend time with them, and listen to their problems, you gain new perspectives and learn to see things differently. It leads you to fresh ideas which can be extremely beneficial for your career development.
2. You Practice Leadership
Leadership is a valuable skill that one needs in order to grow in their professional life. Leaders must understand business challenges and be able to make sound decisions. Being someone’s mentor allows you to understand their problems and spend time on finding solutions. This means you practice solution-based thinking, even more, which is the fundamental quality of a leader. Moreover, you share your knowledge and skills with your mentee, which is another important part of leadership.
3. Mentoring Someone Sharpens Your Emotional Radar
Mentoring is a relationship between two people. Naturally, there are times when both you and your mentee face emotional challenges. You may or may not understand an emotional reaction of your mentee, but you are required to handle it smartly, every time.
This practice makes you more empathetic and considerate of others’ feelings which not only helps you grow as a professional but also improves your relationships with your friends and colleagues.
Also Read: Top Mentoring Training Strategies for New Mentors
4. It Improves Your Communication Skill
Being able to communicate is the most powerful tool that a leader can have. While a lack of communication can cause misinterpretation of information and create barriers that obstruct progress, effective communication helps gain trust, build a positive relationship, and align a team in pursuit of goals.
If you want to see yourself in a leadership role, nothing can be more effective than mentoring someone to improve your communication skill.
5. Gain Insights Into Other Industries
If you mentor someone from outside your industry, there will be an excellent opportunity for you to learn about other industries. You will gain more ideas which will allow you to make better decisions in your professional life. You will also have a chance to increase your professional and personal contact which may unlock tons of career opportunities for you. Besides, the knowledge you gain is invaluable.
6. You Work Towards Changing Someone’s Life
Believe it or not, mentors have the power to change someone’s life (for the better).
- They help their mentee during difficult times, advise them on big decisions, and support them in their day-to-day challenges.
- Because a mentor is generally more experienced than their mentee, they can help the mentee gain knowledge, skills, and the confidence they need to succeed in life.
- The valuable resources that a mentor shares are immensely beneficial for the mentee’s growth.
- A mentor’s wisdom comes from their experience. That’s why the ideas they share can help the mentee broaden their worldview.
Also Read: 7 Ways to Create a Successful Group Mentoring Program
7. You Gain The Reward Of Helping Others
When you use your skills and knowledge to help someone grow, you get immense satisfaction. And what’s more rewarding is to know that you are making a difference to someone else’s life and that you kept your promise to help them accomplish their goals. You feel good about yourself which helps you see things positively.
Mentoring is indeed extremely beneficial for the mentor, but a mentoring relationship that begins without proper training is more likely to fail. And if you are going to be a mentor for the first time, mentoring training is a must-have for you. Mentoring University is a platform where you get the most effective online mentor training which maximizes your success as a mentor.