How Being a Mentor Makes You a Better Leader

There's no doubt you've heard of mentoring or mentorship programs. January is National Mentoring Month, and the goal Is to raise awareness of mentoring by recruiting people to mentor and encouraging organizations to promote mentoring. You've probably heard about the benefits of being mentored by someone in your desired career field. But have you heard about the benefits of being a mentor?

The relationship between mentor and mentee (the person being mentored) is mutually beneficial. One of the most popular areas people want a mentor in is leadership. The mentor serves as a role model and teacher, and the mentee can uncover where they may have room to improve. Once the areas where improvement is needed are identified, the pair work together to grow their leadership skills.

Through regular one-on-one conversations, experience, knowledge and advice are shared. Ideas on future opportunities, planning a career track and discussing industry trends and changes are all part of the mentoring process. Mentors and mentees can be in the same company or organization or work in opposite career fields. Personal and professional mentorship is built on mutual trust and respect more than anything else.

Benefits for the Mentor

There are many benefits to leading a mentorship relationship. The goal is to build  relationships that enrich your and your mentee's lives. You should both aim to learn and grow, personally and professionally. It's not about teaching or solving their problems. It's about walking them through some obstacles you encountered and encouraging them to continue their career track.

Here are some benefits you may experience as a mentor.

• Build leadership skills by developing your ability to motivate and encourage others

• Improve communication with those from other backgrounds, industries or educational levels

• See things from different perspectives and learn a new way of thinking

• Career advancement as you build your leadership skills and showcase how you have helped others to grow

• Personal satisfaction from contributing directly to someone's personal and professional development

• A renewed interest in your career and increased confidence in your knowledge and skills

• Networking potential as you explore mentoring groups or professional organizations that offer mentoring programs 

How to Find Someone to Mentor

If you're interested in mentoring someone but don't have anyone in mind, there are some ways to find one. You can ask around your company or organization, paying attention to who asks questions when specific topics arise at meetings or who holds a position you once held. Let word of mouth help you by sharing that you are available and willing to mentor. If you're part of a co-working space or professional group, you can also look there. The key is to remain open when people ask about mentorship opportunities, so you don't miss them.

When you think you've found the right person, or they've found you, you'll want to start with a conversation about what they're looking for. You'll want to ensure you can answer "yes" to most of these questions by the end of the conversation.

• Do we share a similar work ethic?

• Do we get along?

• Are their career goals something I can advise them on?

• Are they committed to their career growth?

• Are there areas I can share advice in that will benefit them?

Once you and your mentee have decided to make your mentoring relationship official, you'll want to make some plans. Start with creating a roadmap for their career track, how often you wish to meet, how you'll stay in touch, etc. Don't be afraid to set – and maintain – boundaries on both sides.

Join a strong community of military veterans and their family members by connecting with other students and alumni at GGU.