Role Of A Mentor In Business | Are You Ready?

Taking on the role of a mentor in business can offer some surprising — and invigorating — benefits for seasoned business people. However, it is important to be willing to step out of your comfort zone and grow in new and unexpected ways to fully tap into these advantages.

For example, think of Robert DeNiro’s character, a widower and retired executive, in last year’s movie, “The Intern.” DeNiro’s character is selected to take part in a Senior Intern Program for an e-commerce company and is assigned to shadow the founder and CEO, played by Anne Hathaway. After some initial tension, he ends up advising Hathaway’s character on how to successfully navigate the young business through tricky waters. Yet the movie also makes clear that DeNiro’s character reaps important benefits from his mentoring relationship, including learning about technology from his Millennial-generation colleagues and gaining a sense of belonging in the company.

The Benefits of Being a Mentor

But does “The Intern” have any basis in today’s business world? A 2015 study published in The Chronicle of Evidence-Based Mentoring suggests that assuming the role of a mentor in business does offer important benefits for seasoned employees. For instance, the researchers’ analysis found that mentors report higher job satisfaction and a greater commitment to the organization.

The study also suggests that the focus of the mentoring effort makes a difference in the type of benefits that the mentor derives. “Mentors who engaged in career support perceived that they had greater career success, mentors who engaged in psychosocial support reported being more committed to their workplace, and mentors who engaged in role modeling support reported better job performance,” the researchers stated.

Taking on the Role of a Mentor in Business

How can you sign up to be a mentor? I’ve found that networking is the best way to take on the role of a mentor in business. For instance, many large organizations offer formalized mentoring programs through their human resource departments. I’d encourage you to reach out to the HR director to indicate your interest in advising less-seasoned employees.

However, you don’t need to be part of a large organization to take on this important role. I know of many people who work in one-person departments or small businesses who have stepped into the role of a mentor in business. Again, networking is key, whether through professional organizations, area colleges and universities, or government-sponsored mentor organizations.

While your experience as a mentor may not match what is depicted in “The Intern,” your service assisting others can enhance your own business perspective and career satisfaction. I’d encourage you to consider the wise words of Plutarch when thinking about the benefits of serving as a mentor: “The mind is not a vessel that needs filling, but wood that needs igniting.”