Mentorship is a powerful gift and blessing to anyone who wishes to succeed in life and business. And I would recommend it to avid readers of this article. The benefits of mentorship are manifold, and we shall be examining them in this article. Nothing can fast-track your pace in career and self-development like having a mentor as your teacher and guide.
And this rule applies to every facet of our lives. Name it – trade, profession, family, religion, spirituality, academics, finances, politics, and more. At whatever stage in your career or life that you and I have attained, the benefits of mentorship will simplify complexities.
You might want to switch to another career path or take a major life-changing decision. But you need some validation or help to think clearly and be sure you are doing the right thing. Mentors will give you the needed guidance and embolden you to succeed.
For Clarity: Who is a Mentor?
I came across one of the most specific definitions of the term ‘mentorship‘ in an online article. And It reads:
‘A mentor is an experienced professional who provides informal guidance to beginners as well as experienced professionals for career growth. Being in a mutually beneficial professional relationship, the mentor has the mentee’s best interests at heart and adopts a flexible mentorship style to meet the latter’s needs.’ (Chatterjee, D., 2022)
I have not truly met any self-made person. Indeed, at least one person will have impacted positively on your life before you can boast of a breakthrough. Anyone who is a reference point for success today, somehow, must have enjoyed the benefits of mentorship. Surprisingly, some of our mentors are people who do not appear cut out for the role. Yet a divine, invisible hand will often position such persons in your path if you can recognize and use that opportunity.
It could be a school teacher, lecturer, parent, relative, boss, trainer, religious leader, or spiritual adept. Or it could be a learned (or wise/experienced) person; a resourceful agent of change you met in a place or at an event. In some extraordinary cases, a mentor comes into our lives through a seemingly random event. That mentor will usually change the course of our lives forever in a positive way. Perhaps you might have given up without this agent of rescue appearing just at the right time.
It is also good to actively seek a mentor. Thus you are asking for permission to be his/her willing student. You will usually recognize a potential mentor from his/her achievements. And the results such a person consistently produces in his/her pursuits will be clear enough to convince you. However, the benefits of mentorship will only come to you if you are willing to learn and to see beyond your understanding. Mentors are usually focused, rugged products of both learning and experience. You must be patient and humble enough to be straightened, strengthened, criticized, and shown examples you can replicate.
What are the Benefits of Mentorship to Your Career?
The benefits of mentorship cannot be quantified in terms of money. Because the life-changing effect of mentorship is like a sacrifice of love in an adopted parent-to-child relationship. The experience stays with the mentee forever, unshakeable. Some of the benefits of mentorship are as follows.
You Learn from the Real-life Experiences of Your Mentor
You gain knowledge and deeper insight from the direct experiences narrated by your mentor. You can learn from their stories of losses, gains, failures, and triumphs during challenging times. Your mentor will literally (or figuratively) teach you HOW he/she overcame a challenge. Your mentor can even show you alternative routes/methods to achieve the same goal. He or she can also help you identify and pursue the needed skills for your career success.
You Develop a Wider Perspective on Opportunities and Knowledge
A mentor takes you higher to see issues from his own broader perspective, which you may not see at your level. You learn to draw from his wealth of knowledge and experience. Thus you can see and understand ideas and concepts gathered not merely from him/her, but from his/her other learned colleagues as well.
The mentee ultimately learns to apply the ‘broader perspective’ to solving problems and making well-informed choices (that will not be selfish or self-defeating).
Opportunity for Broader Professional Networking/Connections
Your mentor will likely introduce you to his/her network of valuable contacts along the way. He or she may refer you to any one of them to provide the much-needed help (when he/she cannot do so). That will often help you to build your connections – which would naturally begin with such contacts. As your network expands, they pave the way for a future full of benefits. Oftentimes, it may include getting job referrals or other valuable assistance from them.
Increased Confidence and Drive
Your mentor can energize you by charging you up to pursue a goal. He/she will further build up your confidence in the process. That goal may include advancing your career, and your willingness to have greater achievements in your workplace.
Encouragement to Identify, Set, and Achieve Career Goals
Your mentor could very well offer to be the origin or testing ground for creative ideas. He or she can help you to focus and clarify your ideas, and additionally give useful suggestions. Furthermore, he/she can point out the best alternatives to achieving a goal. Thus, you reduce the chances of getting stuck, suffering losses, or getting lost from making poor decisions.
Improved Communication Skills
A mentor cannot be the great teacher he/she ends up becoming without showing practical examples. As such, your mentor becomes your role model. You learn to perfect your skills by observing their moves, and acting out the same. One of those skills is the art of effective communication. You also learn by following their instructions and receiving feedback from them to improve yourself.
Also Read- Navigating Workplace Conflicts: Do’s and Don’ts
Helps in Personal and Career Advancement
Mentors can help you to stay focused on your business and/or career and personal development. He or she can encourage you to gather more relevant knowledge, skills, and resources as you climb up the ladder of success. A good mentor would also link you up (or help you to identify) the right helpers or connections that will benefit you. And lastly, mentors can teach you to use your resources correctly and wisely.
Can Develop Leadership and Coaching Abilities in Mentees
Mentors can help their mentees to develop higher ethical values and a good, strong character. A good mentor will listen patiently, suggest solutions, and help their mentees to think deeply and make meaningful choices. These lessons will strengthen the mentee to handle tough decisions in the future, and stand in the place of leadership without falling.
Mentors Help to Identify and Correct Significant Flaws in a Mentee
A good mentor typically has a keen eye and as such, can quickly see your flaws and point them out to you. This will help the mentee to stop his/her flaws from working against him or her in times to come.
