The Benefits of Having a Mentor
Whether for career goals or personal growth, mentors can play an essential role in the lives of those seeking new levels of success. Like teachers and coaches, mentors guide people through continuous learning by modeling positive behaviors and establishing trust. A mentor is different from a coach or teacher, and unlike life coaches, mentors are not paid. A coach focuses on your specific strengths and weaknesses. A mentor is usually a professional with specialized knowledge enlisted to motivate and educate in one’s career growth, personal life, or both.
Unlike the finite and structured relationship between a coach and their student, the mentor-mentee relationship tends to be less structured and long-term, sometimes lasting a lifetime. The relationship between a mentor with their protege is based on valuable guidance and honest self-appraisal. It’s a professional relationship with a more holistic approach to personal or career development.
Without goals, a mentee might have no plan or direction on how to reach their desired destination. By helping the mentee define goals and set steps or strategies to get there, mentors help them focus on what needs to be done to advance and succeed in their careers. These are also the goals used to measure mentorship success.
Often it’s easier for an outsider to notice your weak areas and where you need some improvement. Over time, a mentor understands your weaknesses and strengths and can play a vital role in bringing out the best in you. A mentor helps keep a protege on track and responsible. A mentor holds you accountable for the actions you take and ensures you don’t slacken. Mentors keep you going through encouragement. More importantly, mentors don’t just give advice or point out flaws — they are a reliable, objective support system that encourages you to believe in yourself and take risks.
Having a mentor to guide and advise you can boost your confidence and help you develop problem-solving skills. A mentor not only boosts your self-esteem and emotional health, but is always available. They can offer a different or new perspective on a matter that can be instrumental in helping you leave unhelpful ways of thinking or change bad habits. Mentors can also serve as a sounding board to test your ideas, which can lead to better plans.
Mentoring is a powerful tool that can help propel your professional aspirations. Most mentors are well-connected, well-liked, and friendly because they are willing to give back and support others. They can also connect you with their professional networks or individuals that can propel your career endeavors. By sharing their experiences, mentors can steer you away from making the same mistakes they’ve made, thus speeding up your growth.
A mentor can provide you with the support, knowledge, and expertise to answer even the most challenging career questions. They are experts at discovering issues that could be holding back your growth at the personal or business level, sometimes unveiling solutions you didn’t suspect you needed. For example, it’s not easy to know who can be trusted in the business world, especially with intellectual property and proprietary information. Mentors are also disciplinarians who can help set necessary social and professional boundaries that you could not do independently.
Originally published at http://aaronmarzwell.wordpress.com on December 9, 2021.
