What does it take to be a good mentor?
Related:Mentoring Vs Managing: Does It Have To Be One Or The Other?
Mentoring is the development of a relationship, a partnership between two individuals where one more experienced person guides the less experienced person, developing and strengthening their abilities. The participants in the relationship, the subject matter and where the process occurs will vary. However, the common denominators in what makes a good mentor will always include the following:
An interest level in their subject and their mentee
A commitment to the process
A belief that their mentee is equally committed to the process
Confidence in their own abilities
Good communication skills
Excellent listening skills
Enthusiasm for their chosen profession
A positive force adding value in ones industry and community
A personal interest in seeing their mentee succeed
A constant pursuit of excellence in their profession by staying current
A desire to pay it forward
How does one become a more valuable mentor?
Provide Valuable Feedback
An even more valuable mentor makes it clear to their mentee that this is a two-way street. A mentor is teacher and guide. The knowledge and experience that they can share is a valuable resource. Allowing their mentee to be heard and providing feedback that is positive, supportive, and constructive is a necessary skill that adds value to the mentoring partnership.
The traits that a mentee observes about their mentor are equally telling. For example, is their mentor respected by and respectful of their colleagues? Does their mentor communicate well? Is the mentor available to the mentee, initiating interaction and encouraging the mentee to question and evaluate what they are learning?
Listen
The mentor/mentee relationship starts with the mentee seeking guidance and learning from the mentor. In the early stages, the scales are tipped heavily toward the mentor. It is the responsibility of the mentor to lay the foundation for the mentee. As the relationship progresses, a successful mentor will be nurturing the mentee's growth by encouraging curiosity.
Although a mentor is a teacher and guide, the strongest skill that they possess is that of being able to listen, not only to what is being said by their mentee, but also to the unspoken cues. This happens most effectively when there is chemistry between the mentor and the mentee. Fostering a compatible bond with their mentee adds a dimension to the mentor /mentee partnership that enhances the experience for both. This will encourage the move toward equilibrium in the relationship, an important next phase in the mentoring process.
Tip The Learning Curve
Now, the dynamic is moving toward a more level interaction, where the mentee is not only encouraged but is now expected to question and become more proactive. The best of mentors will tip the learning curve increasingly in the direction of the mentee and move the process into the final phase, that of the independent mentee.
The development that takes place from start to finish is unique in each mentor/mentee relationship. One common thread, however, is the value added by the mentor who believes in them self and in their mentee, the mentor who is able to share the experience not only for the mentee but with them.
Lead By Example
Ultimately, the qualities that make a good mentor, and that allow them to add value to the mentor/mentee relationship, are the same set of personal and professional qualities that one finds in an excellent role model. An excellent role model is the kind of person who is insightful, a good listener, supportive, caring, admirable, and accessible. The mentor/role model who adds value is a guide and educator who is able to add practical advice and provide constructive criticism. Role models are successful individuals and they desire success for others. They not only 'talk the talk,' they 'walk the walk.' Who is the most valuable mentor? The person who leads by example!
This post was originally published on an earlier date.
Anne Marie Cooley is a Management Services Professional with 25+ years of experience helping others succeed by finding their strengths! She is also a virtual career coach at CareerHMO.com. Disclosure: This post is sponsored by a CareerHMO coach.
Is your job search turning into a grind with no end in sight? It may be time to take a step back and reevaluate your entire approach.
In cold weather climates, the beginning of spring is a time to clean the house and get organized—a practice known as spring cleaning. Through the years, spring cleaning has taken on a larger meaning with people using the time to organize and declutter things in their lives.
For professionals on the job hunt, a little spring cleaning (metaphorically speaking) could be a great way to reinvigorate your job search. Here are a few strategies your job search spring cleaning should include.
Reevaluate Your Job Search Approach
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Make a list of the last handful of jobs you applied for and see if you can identify any positive or negative trends. Consider things like:
How did I learn about this job?
How did I apply for the job?
Did I earn an interview?
What was the ultimate result?
A lot can be learned about your job search approach just by answering these questions and identifying patterns. For example:
Negative Trends
You discovered five jobs through job boards, applied to all of them via the job boards, and never heard back from any of them.
The common pattern here is applying through job boards. This isn't to say that job boards don't serve a purpose in the job search process, but they have their limitations, and you can't run your job search entirely off of them. When you apply through a job board, there's a good chance that your materials will never get past the applicant tracking system (ATS) and never be seen by an actual person.
One simple fix is to research who the hiring manager or recruiter is that posted the position and email your materials to them directly.
The more efficient fix would be to take a proactive approach by putting together a bucket list of companies that you want to work for and start making connections on LinkedIn with people who work at those companies. You may already know some people who work there or have connections that can refer you to some individuals.
This is a great way to network your way onto a company's radar.
Positive Trends
You applied to three jobs via referral, were invited to two job interviews, and made it through multiple rounds of interviews for one of the jobs before being passed over for someone with a little more experience.
The pattern here is that getting referred to a job by a professional acquaintance is a great way to land a job interview. This indicates that you're leveraging your network well and you should continue to focus on your networking efforts.
The next step is to review the interview process and determine what went well and what needs to be improved. Sometimes the interviewer will provide feedback, and that feedback can be valuable. However, not everyone is comfortable with giving feedback.
Chances are you probably have a good idea about areas of improvement and the skills you need to gain. Put together a plan for addressing those shortfalls.
The good news in making it deep into any interview process is that it indicates that the company likes you as a potential employee (even if the timing just wasn't right) and the experience could be a roadmap to a job with that company at a later date, or another similar opportunity elsewhere.
Give Your Resume & Cover Letter Some Much-Needed Attention
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Are you continuously sending similar resumes and cover letters to each job opening with only minor adjustments? If so, your strategy needs some serious spring cleaning.
The reason why it's so important to tailor your resume is that throughout your career, you acquire numerous skills, but the job you're applying for may only be focusing on 6-8 of those skills. In that case, those skills must rise to the top of the resume with quantifiable examples of how you successfully used those skills at previous jobs.
Remember, recruiters go through hundreds of resumes. They need to be able to tell from a quick glance whether or not you're a potential candidate for the position.
While updating your resume, you could also spruce up your LinkedIn profile by highlighting the skill sets that you want to be noticed for by recruiters.
As for writing a good cover letter, the key to success is writing a disruptive cover letter. When you write a disruptive cover letter, you're basically telling a story. The story should focus on how you connect with the particular company and job position. The story could also focus on your personal journey, and how you got to where you currently are in your career.
If your resumes and cover letters aren't unique, now is the time to clean things up and get on track.
Build Your Personal Brand
Just because you're looking for work doesn't mean that you don't have anything to offer. Use previous career experiences and passions to build your personal brand.
Ask yourself, "How do I want other professionals to view me?"
Pick an area of expertise and start sharing your knowledge and experience with your professional network by pushing out content on your LinkedIn and social media accounts. Good content can include blogs, social media posts, and videos.
By sharing content about your experiences and passions, you slowly build your personal brand, and others will start to notice. The content could lead to good discussions with others in your network. It could also lead to reconnecting with connections that you haven't spoken to in years, or making new connections.
You never know when one of these connections could turn into a job lead or referral. The trick is to get on people's radars. So, when you're cleaning up your job search, be sure to build a plan for personal branding.
Maintain Healthy Habits During Your Job Search
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Your job search is important, but it's even more important to know when to pull back and focus on personal health and spending time with family and friends.
There are actually things that you can do for your own enjoyment that could help your job search in the long run, such as:
Grab coffee with a friend - It's good to engage in light conversation with friends during challenging times. And if your job search does come up, remember that most people have been through it themselves and you never know when a friend may provide you with a good idea or lead on a job.
Volunteer - Volunteering is a great way to get involved in the community and help others. In addition, if you develop a little bit of a career gap while looking for a job, you can always talk about how you filled that time volunteering, if you're asked about it during a job interview.
Continue to focus on other passions - Are you a fitness nut? Blogger? Crafter? Continue to do the things that bring you happiness. And if you're in a position to profit from your passion through a freelance job or side hustle, even better!
Spring is the perfect time to clean up and improve your job search so you can land the job you want. If you're struggling to find a job, follow the tips above to reinvigorate your job search—and watch your career blossom!
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This article was originally published at an earlier date.