The Benefits Of Mentoring

The benefits of mentoring can be numerous. In a traditional professional environment, mentoring gives young professionals access to a seasoned businessperson who can help guide their growth. These relationships often include one-on-one career guidance, chances to explore new areas of growth and networking opportunities. Developing a focused approach is important to truly reap the benefits of mentoring. If too many potential topics are placed on the table for action, the mentoring relationship can be spread too thin. Chances also increase that the young professional won’t be matched with a mentor who is experienced in the specific area(s) in which the mentee would like the most support.

Focusing on Areas of Potential Growth

What’s the best way to identify the key area(s) where young professionals will benefit the most from mentor support? One way is to identify the mentee’s greatest opportunities for growth. These areas might have been mentioned during job evaluations or may be skills in which the mentee feels less confident.  Various assessments also can help identify areas to target for growth.

Long-term professional goals also can serve as the focus for mentoring. For instance, some mentees want to move into senior-level positions; therefore, they can use a mentor’s guidance to hone their leadership and management skills. In these cases, management or leadership assessments can serve as a good starting point to help the mentor and mentee determine the specific skills on which to focus. Additionally, the mentee’s boss also can help identify areas of growth needed for the mentee to be considered for future management positions.

Reverse Mentoring

Don’t forget that mentoring can be a two-way street. The mentee often has many types of expertise –such as social media and technology — to share with the mentor. Therefore, part of the early conversation between the mentor and the mentee should include brainstorming about ways to make sure the benefits of mentoring are mutual.

Mentoring offers an opportunity for informal guidance that can help both the mentee and the mentor grow professionally. While this relationship may only last a few months or years, the knowledge shared between both individuals will inform their business perspectives throughout their lives.