Mentoring is a process where a protegee meets regularly with a more experienced person for advice and guidance. Both parties don’t necessarily have to be from the same industry, but for the process to be beneficial, the mentor needs to have qualities or achievements that the mentee strives for.
Mentoring is as old as the world itself. Relationships between a master and a student have been shaping our world for centuries and are common in politics, arts, science, and business. Some of the most famous modern mentoring relationships include; Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg, Father Michael van der Peet and Mother Teresa, as well as Christian Dior and Yves Saint-Laurent.
Nowadays, more and more organizations around the world start introducing more structured mentoring programs where employees from different parts of the organization are matched with each other. You might even be able to find virtual mentoring programs where two people from different parts of the world develop an online relationship. But why is this concept so important for your career and your personal life?
You don’t have to reinvent the wheel
Being able to learn from someone who has walked the path you are embarking on is priceless. It prepares you for the obstacles, makes you aware of what your dreams actually look like in reality, and allows you to have a more down to earth view on the process.
Regardless if you’re changing careers, trying to navigate a complex corporation or industry, or building a company from scratch – in any case, you will encounter obstacles. It’s best to learn how to deal with them from someone with experience.
You will start believing
Oftentimes, our biggest obstacle to achieving our goals is our own subconscious. Because our mind’s job is to keep us safe, it can sabotage our attempts to get out of the comfort zone. Self-doubt, fear, and procrastination are just the mind’s tactics to keep us where we are – safe, but boring.
Seeing someone with a lifestyle you desire sends a signal to your subconsciousness that your choices are not only possible but also safe. The mind will struggle to achieve what it doesn’t know or haven’t seen, but having a mentor expands your pool of what you believe is possible.
You will have an objective view of yourself
We rarely see our own character traits in an objective way. Bodo Schäfer, an international bestselling author and Money Coach, says that we remember our mistakes and failures 11 times faster and more durable than successes. A mentor, however, is able to point out your strengths and successes that you might take for granted.
The same counts for weaknesses, of course. It might seem like it’s painful to hear criticism from your mentor. However, because you don’t have a deep, emotional relationship with them, it’s very enriching to hear constructive remarks about your work and how others perceive you. And that’s valuable for relationships in your personal life as well.
You might gain a friend
It’s not uncommon for mentors and mentees to become lifelong friends. The relationship is mutually beneficial – the mentee gains guidance and support, while the mentor benefits from a fresh perspective on their career or business. Once the mutual trust and respect are established, it’s quite natural that both parties start learning from one another.
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The Global Mentoring Walks convene established women leaders and emerging women leaders to walk together. As they walk, they discuss their personal and professional challenges and successes to establish a mentoring relationship, in which the established leader guides, advises and supports an emerging leader. These women are different, but they are guided by a shared belief: power expands the moment it is shared.
