Mentorship has far reaching benefits for all involved. The best way a mentor can prepare the mentee is to expose him or her to great people. Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction. A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ability within you, then you see in yourself, and helps bring it out of you.
Mentors must be carefully selected, as they are the key to your success and happiness. For the mentoring relationship to work, their only agenda must be to provide wisdom, insights and guidance to you. And they must be willing to tell you the truth, pointing out your blind spots with candor in order for you to course –correct in real time. Mentors do not have to be in the same field, or occupation, or to have the same interests. They simply need to have your back.
In most cases, it is best to select someone who is significantly older than you to assure there is no competition or hidden agendas. Also, choose someone who has already succeeded in the areas you hope to learn from them, so that they now have the time to provide you with counsel without taking time away from their own career.
Last but not least a mentoring relationship is only as effective as the relationships that are developed between the mentor and the mentee. The “Chemistry” between the mentor and the mentee as well as a match between the mentor’s expertise and the mentee’s developmental needs are critical components for a successful relationship.
