A mentor plays a significant role in the career advancement of several groups of people in an organization. As a catalyst in growth, a coach, and a guide, mentors must know the rules they need to follow.
Mentorship programs play a pivotal role in enabling the advancement of underrepresented workgroups like women. The Best Companies for Women in India (BCWI), a yearly gender analytic exercise undertaken by Avtar in association with Seramount, found that 100% of the 2021 Top 10 BCWI companies had mentoring programs as part of their career development strategies. Similarly, among the top 100, 95% of them had mentoring modules.
If you see yourself as a mentor, here are five rules to apply:
Make some ground rules: While you have communicated that you are available for guidance and knowledge sharing, the mentee should know the ground rules. When you explain the mentorship process, lay down the expectations from the person. Make it amply clear that they have to take a few important steps.
Set mutual goals: Setting mutual goals to define the path for mentorship. Mutually agreeing upon goals gives a clear picture for the mentee to work. Establishing these would always keep the destination in the foreground for all the plans around it. It will outline what needs both of you to participate and what has to be done individually.
Listen as you mentor: You may be someone who has traversed a long path in your career and has demonstrated your expertise. It is important to know that as a mentor, you and the mentee are envisioning a career. You can always advise after the mentee has placed their points. It will also make the discussion meaningful and fruitful.
Let mentee make decisions: This is possibly the most significant aspect of the mentor-mentee relationship. While you offer insights and views, the mentee should feel empowered to make the decisions. Your knowledge and foresight shouldn’t hinder the mentee’s capability to think through situations and come up with solutions. And, also remember you may always not know the answer.
Give constructive and positive feedback: While you may have your style and approach, remember that enabling the mentee to try out different ideas to know what works better will encourage them to act accordingly. Even when your mentee makes a mistake, see it as a lesson to apply in their plans. You can be honest with your feedback, but you must also be constructive, offering tips about why something will work or not work.
A mentor shapes careers and plays a significant role in taking the mentee towards growth and success. The best form of mentorship combines expertise, experience, and the willingness to charter the mentee’s path with neutrality.
