The Benefits to Mentoring by Rich Horowitz

T H E B E N E F I T S T O M E N T O R I N G

B Y R I C H H O R O W I T Z

A S A M E N T O R , Y O U R R E S P O N S I B I L I T I E S G O B E Y O N D T H E H O U R S A N D D AY S Y O U S P E N D W I T H A N I N D I V I D U A L . R AT H E R T H E VA L U E I S S E E N I N T H E L O N G L A S T I N G T R A N S F O R M AT I O N A L E F F E C T Y O U H AV E O N A N O T H E R P E R S O N ’ S L I F E . I T I S T H AT C H A N G E T H AT M A K E S T H I S T Y P E O F A R E L AT I O N S H I P A P R E C I O U S C O M M O D I T Y.

B U T W H AT I S A M E N T O R ? H O W C A N I B E C O M E A M E N T O R A N D I N F L U E N C E T H E C H A N G E F O R T H O S E T H AT N E E D I T M O S T ?

B Y D E F I N I T I O N , A M E N T O R - M E N T E E PA RT N E R S H I P I S A N I N F O R M A L R E L AT I O N S H I P W H E R E A P E R S O N T R A N S M I T S K N O W L E D G E , S O C I A L C A P I TA L , A N D P S Y C H O L O G I C A L S U P P O RT T O A N O T H E R I N D I V I D U A L F O R E I T H E R P E R S O N A L O R P R O F E S S I O N A L D E V E L O P M E N T.

M U C H O F M E N T O R I N G E N TA I L S A S T R O N G S E N S E O F C O M M U N I C AT I O N . T H I S I S U S U A L LY C U LT I VAT E D T H R O U G H O N E - O N - O N E C O N V E R S AT I O N S E S S I O N S S E T U P T H R O U G H VA R I O U S P R O G R A M S O R S C H O O L S .

F O R T H I S T O H A P P E N , T H E M E N T O R N E E D S T O B E A S U P P O RT I V E A N D A C T I V E L I S T E N E R . T H E Y N E E D T O K N O W W H E N T O P U S H A N D W H E N T O B A C K O F F. I N A D D I T I O N , T H E Y N E E D T O B E A B L E T O F O S T E R S E L F - D E C I S I O N M A K I N G A N D P E R S O N A L G R O W T H B Y L E N D I N G VA R I O U S P E R S P E C T I V E S T O D I F F E R E N T S I T U AT I O N S .

A S M U C H A S W E W O U L D L I K E T O T H I N K T H AT T H E M E N T E E I S T H E O N E W H O B E N E F I T S F R O M T H E P R O G R A M , AT T H E E N D O F T H E D AY, B O T H I N D I V I D U A L S A R E G I V E N T H E O P P O R T U N I T Y T O L E A R N A N D G R O W A S P E O P L E . M A N Y M E N T O R S S AY T H AT T H E R E WA R D T H E Y G A I N I S F R O M T H E T I M E A N D B O N D I N G T H E Y D E V E L O P E D W I T H T H E I R M E N T E E S .

I N A D D I T I O N , M A N Y M E N T E E S S AY T H E S I M I L A R T H I N G A N D H O W T H E Y W I L L U S E T H E I R M E N T O R ’ S G U I D A N C E T O I M P R O V E T H E M S E LV E S E A C H A N D E V E R Y D AY.

B E N E F I T S F O R T H E M E N T O R

1 . P E R S O N A L S AT I S FA C T I O N O F G I V I N G B A C K

During a person’s life, they amass a wide variety of opportunities that allowed them to become the person they are today.

By mentor, a person is able to give back to his or her community and provide those similar opportunities to those who have experienced inopportune lifestyles.

2 . A B L E T O H I G H L I G H T S PA S T E X P E R I E N C E S

O N E G R E AT T H I N G A B O U T M E N T O R I N G I S T H AT Y O U C A N S H A R E Y O U R P E R S O N A L A N D P R O F E S S I O N A L E X P E R I E N C E S W I T H A P E R S O N .

R E G A R D L E S S I F T H E Y A R E P O S I T I V E O R N E G AT I V E , T H E P E R S O N L I S T E N I N G C A N S E E H O W E A C H I N S TA N T H A S A L L O W E D Y O U T O D E V E L O P A N D G R O W A S A N I N D I V I D U A L .

3 . T E A C H E S A N D G U I D E S A P E R S O N F O R T H E B E T T E R

T H E B E S T T H I N G A B O U T M E N T O R I N G I S M A K I N G A T R A N S F O R M AT I O N A L I M PA C T O N A N I N D I V I D U A L .

A S S TAT E D B E F O R E , Y O U W E R E G I V E N A VA R I E T Y O F O P P O RT U N I T I E S T O L E A R N , G R O W, A N D D E V E L O P T O B E C O M E T H E S U C C E S S F U L P E R S O N Y O U A R E T O D AY.

T O S H A R E T H AT W I S D O M A N D K N O W L E D G E T O A N O T H E R I N D I V I D U A L I S N O T J U S T A WAY F O R Y O U T O S P E A K A B O U T Y O U R S E L F, B U T A L S O A N O P P O RT U N I T Y F O R A P E R S O N T O L E A R N F R O M Y O U R L I F E . Y O U R S T O R I E S A R E T H E O N E S T H AT W I L L C U LT I VAT E Y O U R M E N T E E ’ S F U T U R E .

F O R T H E M E N T E E

1 . B U I L D S E L F - C O N F I D E N C E

At times, many people who seek mentors are those who lack self-confidence.

Whether it is a personal or professional problem, having a mentor that can walk them through that situation can be incredibly life changing.

Remember, these people have been there and done that. Don’t just listen to them, but learn from them.

2 . S T R AT E G I Z E F O R A T H E F U T U R E

• When you are uncertain about your future or career trajectory, the best possible thing you can do is talk to someone, especially a person who has the knowledge and wisdom to help guide you to the right path.

• When talking to a mentor, try and strategize the best possible ways for you to improve your future.

• Think months and years from now of where you want to be and see what advice they can give you to make that dream a reality.

3 . L I S T E N S T O A N E W P E R S P E C T I V E For most situations, your mentor is coming from a completely different position or field.

Having the opportunity to listen to someone with a fresh perspective can be beneficial in planning out your future.

It gives you opportunities to hear new ideas and new plans to further improve your future.