Mentoring younger or less experienced workers can be incredibly rewarding. But mentorship isn’t as easy as it might sound. Being a good mentor means honing specific qualities in yourself that will help develop your relationships with your mentees. Here are 10 qualities that all great mentors share.
Expertise
A mentorship is a sort of master-student relationship. If you haven’t yet achieved expertise in a relevant professional area, it is probably too soon for you to become a mentor. A great mentor knows the boundaries of their own expertise, and focuses solely on the areas in which they have the appropriate skills and knowledge.
Positivity
It’s not about being chipper all the time. Even the best mentor will have a bad day, and it’s important to be honest when that happens. But good mentors have an overall sense of positivity that radiates throughout their lives.
Commitment
A mentorship is a long-term commitment. Taking on a mentee means dedicating yourself to helping that person build success. Don’t take on the role if you aren’t sure you’ll have time for it in the upcoming months and years.
Open Mindedness
The goal is for the student to surpass the master. Your mentee will likely have fresh new ideas on topics that you’ve always taken for granted. Your job is not to shut those down, but to help the person hone and refine them. Under your guidance, your mentee should learn to assess, revise, and ultimately implement their own solutions.
Self-Reflection
Mentors are only human, which means they are subject to the same biases, distorted thinking, and other challenges as anyone else. But a great mentor is skilled in self-reflection. You should be able to confront your own thoughts and feelings, to reflect on your past mistakes and successes, and to ultimately find the lessons in all of it.
Teaching Skills
A mentor isn’t a traditional teacher, but teaching is an important part of the role. You should know how to lead and inspire, providing important lessons along the way.
Responsibility
To be a good mentor, you’ll need to be comfortable taking responsibility for your mentee. While they are ultimately responsible for their own actions, the things you do and say can shape their behaviors in many different ways. Be ready to assist if they miss the point of the lesson and things go awry.
Interest and Excitement
A good mentor is genuinely interested in their mentees. You should like them as people and be enthusiastic about their journey.
Communication Skills
Giving and receiving feedback is core to any mentorship. Make sure you know how to communicate productively and listen effectively.
Authenticity
To be a great mentor, you have to be yourself. Don’t try to emulate your own mentors or others you admire. Learn what you can from them, but then translate everything to fit your own unique style.
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