We all want to give back and leave a legacy to those that are following behind us to make the work place, and the world, a better place to be. I mentor a lot of young professionals and have learned some tricks of the trade that I want to share with you so you can be the best you can be!
Demonstrate compassion and honesty
You just have to care. That’s step one—care enough to share advice and insight, and be willing to be honest. Obviously you want to share positive stories or wins with your mentee, but sometimes it’s really helpful to hear you made a mistake, that there was one point you didn’t know what direction to go in or doubted yourself. Be willing to be vulnerable and transparent so your mentee can grow from it.
Extract confidence
I tell the girls to spend less time looking in the mirror. We need to untangle what we feel is important and what we’re being told is important from other sources and assign those values. I also suggest keeping a win folder. Whether it’s on the computer or it’s a physical folder, I tell them to tuck or file away anything they feel is a “win” throughout the year. We tend to easily forget things that went well or that we accomplished. When something new comes up and they feel like there’s no way they can take it on, they can take a little glance at that folder and look at all the things that made them feel that way before but they accomplished them anyway.
Be time-efficient
As a mentor, you may not always have time to go out for coffee or plan another meeting. I like to utilize email and Skype and set 20 minutes a week where I can respond to my mentees. If writing comes naturally to you, you can direct people to a blog or article that answers the basic questions. Also get groups together at once rather than scheduling 10 different coffee dates or calls. They still get that personal face-to-face time, but it doesn’t have to swallow my whole calendar.
Don’t feel compelled to share everything
In the beginning, it’s important to set boundaries. Sometimes, things are going to come up when you don’t expect them or you can’t prevent them. You can be honest and say, “That’s not something I usually talk about or cover with my mentees.”
Know your place
Most times as a mentor, we’re not therapists or psychologists, so we shouldn’t be giving advice on topics on which we’re not qualified. Stick with your strengths. Talk about things you know from your experience and that you have encountered on your own. There’s nothing wrong with referring your mentee to somebody else who might be able to better answer a question or touch on a topic that’s simply not in your wheelhouse.
Ask the right questions
I like to go from really big to really small. I start with, “What’s the biggest dream that you have?” And I ask, “What have you done in the last week or the last month that you think is moving the needle?” The answer helps you see if their priorities are in line and what kind of mindset they are bringing towards accomplishing their goals. Then, I also encourage my mentees to ask me questions to understand where I started, where I am now and what my challenges are, too.
Make it a great day!