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Most people agree that mentees
receive enormous benefits from mentors. In fact, in the 23
years I've been working with mentors and mentees, I've only
met a handful of individuals who didn't see any benefits of
linking up with a mentor.
Selling mentors, however, is becoming more challenging. Successful
people are getting busier, and many aren't sure they want
to make time to serve as mentors. If you're debating about
playing this role, here are some of the most important reasons
for investing at least two hours a month (24 hours a year)
to help a mentee.
- You'll learn. By serving as a mentor, you'll learn
from your mentees. They'll have knowledge you don't have,
maybe teach you a new job-specific skill, and help you enhance
your people-development skills, which you can use with your
own employees and even your family and friends. In the process,
you'll also learn more about yourself.
- This is a chance to pay back. In the past, you
may have received good mentoring from someone and never
had a chance to show your gratitude to him or her directly.
You now have an opportunity to reciprocate and "put something
back into the pot."
- You could receive recognition from peers and superiors.
Being an effective people developer won't go unrecognized.
In fact, if you're in management, you'll be officially or
unofficially rated on your ability to recognize and groom
talent. If you're in a formal mentoring program, it's likely
you'll be recognized for your contribution.
- You may get some extra work done! Remember how
you paid your dues by doing routine tasks for a mentor?
Within ethical limits, your mentees can work on your research,
help with a project, or finish other work that remains undone.
- You'll review and validate what you know and what
you've accomplished. Teaching another helps you review and
reframe all you've learned about that subject. You'll realize
that you've accomplished much more than you thought.
- You'll be more likely to move into "Generativity"
(vs "Stagnation"). Erik Erikson said you'll reach a critical
decision point in your mid- to late-30s. You can give up
(moving into a Stagnation phase), or you can thrive, proceeding
to Generativity and happy 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond. You
do this by realizing you've been through and mastered much,
a new generation is coming behind you, and you have a lot
to offer it. Being an effective mentor can actually catapult
you into successful Regenerativity.
- You'll probably feel satisfied, proud, and other
energizing emotions. When you have a positive effect
on your mentees, expect several positive feelings of pride,
satisfaction, happiness, contentment, and excitement along
with the enjoyable physiological reactions that go with
them.
- Mentoring could have future personal payoffs. When
mentees are successful, they often reward their mentors.
Even if this isn't your reason for helping, you could receive
grateful thanks, notoriety, jobs, invitations, and other
future opportunities to contribute and celebrate.
- You'll help your organization. Mentoring employees
can help give your organization a recruitment edge, shorten
learning curves, increase your mentees' job satisfaction
and loyalty, and improve productivity and quality.
- You'll leave the world better than you found it.
It's been said before, and it's still true. Taking the time
to reach out to others, share your life's wisdom, and convey
your respect for them is probably the least expensive and
most powerful way to change the world, one life at a time.
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