There are many benefits of being a mentor. If you choose to take on that role, you’ll want to do it well, helping guide your mentee’s growth and development on their way to success. Here are some tips on how to be an excellent mentor:
Seven ways to be an excellent mentor
Conduct an informal SWOT analysis and needs analysis to understand your mentee
Always analyze your mentee’s performance and professional standing to understand what type of career development guidance they need. Understanding their strengths, weaknesses, background and experiences is essential. This can help you plan the mentoring to suit your mentee’s specific needs.
Be clear about your expectations from your mentee
Let your mentee know what you expect from them from the start and what milestones you wish to see reached. This ensures that your mentee reaps the rewards of the mentoring.
Set goals together
Is your mentee currently looking to move to a higher level position in the company? If yes, work together to identify what steps they need to take.
Collaborate with your mentee to set objectives, understand options and potential obstacles. For example, helping them understand what’s realistic will help personalize the mentoring experience.
Guide with relevance
Your mentee may require only a part of your knowledge and guidance; not your entire professional experience. It’s essential to discern what can help them in their career and guide them in a way that is relevant to them.
Be accountable to your mentee
Have reasonable expectations and be sure your mentee knows what they can expect from you. Follow through on your commitments and be upfront when situations arise that prevent you from doing so. Practice what you preach and show your mentee how to achieve results.
Never create room for biases
It can be easy to develop preferences and stereotypes about your mentees from the start. Don’t allow this to happen. It can affect the quality of your relationship and interfere with being a good role model.
Allow your mentee to experiment and grow on their own
Finally, it is essential to remember that your mentees’ journey is their own. Allow them to take control of their careers by providing them stepping stones for success. They will certainly appreciate it and it will provide them with the confidence to build on the results.
If you want to reap the full benefits of mentoring, follow these tips and you are on your way to being an excellent mentor.