On Mentors

Saturday, July 17th, 2010 | Posted in : |

One of the most effective ways of improving and nurturing talent is to get them a mentor. We had a result this week getting a really experienced mentor for a really new entrepreneur. The conversation went along the lines of: ‘if you could have anyone as your mentor who would it be?’

A few names got knocked around and the one we settled on was a highly successful business man with a lot of expertise in marketing and retail: the two skills needed most by the mentee. Needless to say we didn’t know him!

I like a challenge: after rummaging round on the internet for contact info and four emails later our man agreed to see how it would go. Result!

We had prepared our case: a brief biography of our new star together with the business aims and future challenges. Why our man fitted the bill in terms of expectations. I’m looking forward to hearing how it goes and to seeing some progress after what has been a slow slog for this client.

I am currently mentoring someone myself and it’s a discipline to not compare every instance raised to one I have experienced here. Every mentoring dialogue is an opportunity to reflect as well as explore. I can nearly always see both sides of coin and always ask for feedback if I hear ‘thanks that was really helpful’ – in what way? How?  I am finding there is a lot more skill required than first thought and I look constantly for some level of impact from the dialogue. Are we moving or just going over the same ground?

The Wikpedia definition of mentoring is ‘Mentorship refers to a personal developmental relationship in which a more experienced or more knowledgeable person helps a less experienced or less knowledgeable person.’ There is nothing in there about age as my 86 year old mother would testify. She relies on my 17 year old daughter to sort out her mobile phone from time to time when she has forgotten some of the basic rules of operation – then we both get a flurry of blank text messages which is as good as saying ‘where are you’ we know we have to call in. We did wonder if that last upgrade was overcomplicating things.

It doesn’t have to be complicated.

If you are thinking about finding a mentor do be ambitious and aim high. Be clear about what you want and like a mobile phone upgrade when you are ready – it’s not a poor reflection on them it’s a sign of growth in you. Just make sure you are ready.

Further reading: Everyone Needs a Mentor: Fostering Talent in Your Organisation"
David Clutterbuck

Coaching and Mentoring: Practical Conversations to Improve Learning"
Eric Parsloe

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