So, you want to be a mentor?
“So you want to improve your ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ skills” I asked. “Yes indeed” came the reply.
This week, I have spent a lot of time in 1-1 sessions, helping individual mentors improve their mentoring skills.
Here are my ๐ญ๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐ ๐ญ๐ข๐ฉ๐ฌ for guidance.
- ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง with compassion, empathy and understanding โ Deep or Active Listening.
- ๐๐ฌ๐ค ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ, be curious, seek clarity, probe, ask why and help each mentee to ask questions of themselves.
- ๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ ๐ – move their learning from their comfort zone to their stretch zone.
- Give of your ๐๐ข๐ฆ๐, frequently, consistently, intimately, 1-1
- Be fully ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ญ. When you meet, create a psychologically safe space, and ensure there are no distractions.
- Storytelling. Share your experiences that helped you succeed. Bring your stories to life.
- Make a ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง, set objectives and begin with the end in mind.
- Provide ๐๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ & ๐๐ง๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ to your mentee to push through difficult challenges. Be a trusted sounding board.
- ๐๐๐ฏ๐ข๐ฌ๐ & ๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฆ๐ โ make suggestions, offer different perspectives to help a mentee become unstuck through self-reflection.
- Give ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง & ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง from time to time, to avoid potential pitfalls.
