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TTG is looking for mentors to take part in our new mentoring programme, which is supported by Shine. Katherine Lawrey looks at what it takes to be a successful mentor.
Do you think you have what it takes to be a mentor? You might think a mentor is someone in a very senior position in the twilight of their career. But there are many reasons to become a mentor and anyone can become one. They just need have a desire to help and support others, be willing to learn the core skills and have the time to dedicate to mentoring activity.
TTG is looking for mentors to take part in our new TTG Mentoring Scheme, which is launching next month, with an event hosted by TTG, which will provide appropriate coaching.
At that same event we will facilitate the process of matching mentors to their mentees, and then it is up to the pairing to agree future meetings.
Gaby Marcon, director of Shine People & Places, a mentoring specialist organisation, says: “Being a mentor is both challenging and stimulating, but it is also a serious commitment. A mentor is someone who facilitates a learning process rather than a ‘guru’ who passes down ‘knowledge’ to the mentee.
To take this onboard, you need to identify why you want to be one and what is motivating you to accept the opportunity despite a busy schedule of work.”
There are many characteristics of a successful mentor, not least someone with leadership qualities, who is trustworthy and has the interest of others at heart. They should be good at asking open questions, they are non-judgmental and avoid jumping to conclusions. They should be willing to give time to actively listen to others, and reliable in keeping to appointments. And they should be successful and satisfied with his/her own life.
The most harmful thing a mentor could do is use the mentee as a sounding board to winge about their own stresses and strains in life!
A mentor’s role can be summarised in three fundamental activities: supporting, challenging and guiding. They could help the mentee to identify the best career path, work out a career plan and guide them through its implementation. They could help the mentee devise and implement a development plan. And when there are performance issues that need to be addressed, a mentor can act as a coach, by building on strengths, addressing areas for improvement and celebrating success.
TTG will not let you embark on this journey alone. Mentors and mentees will be provided with training to help both parties manage the relationship, to determine goals and objectives together, and to ensure it’s a productive relationship.
And should tricky questions arise, such as to what extent you can challenge or push your mentee, you feel your mentee is becoming too dependent on your support, or your mentee confides in you about an issue, which could seriously impact their company, then TTG’s mentoring expert, Gaby Marcon, will be at the end of the phone.
The mentor testUse these questions to see if you have the right skills and attributes to be a “good” mentor:
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Tony Champion
Champion Mindset Matters
Q. Why have you agreed?
This opportunity came at the right time for me. I’m starting a new venture that revolves around coaching. While that business grows, this will keep my hand in, and I can help others, who may not have considered mentoring before.
Q. What do you hope to get out of it?
It’s all about the mindset – if you believe you can do something, then you can, and I look forward to the challenge of thinking of the right questions to ask that will open up my mentee’s channels of thinking.
Chris Roche
Q. Why have you agreed?
I’ll be honest, I did think, am I right to be a mentor? I wasn’t sure I have enough experience and longevity. But I hope to be able to help someone not make all the mistakes I’ve made, or at least be a sounding board for them.
Q. What do you hope to get out of it?
I hope I can learn something too. Plus it should be fun!
Lisa McAuley
Silversea
Q. Why have you agreed?
Mentoring as a concept wasn’t commonplace earlier in my career, but looking back I think I would have benefited from having someone as a mentor. Often we’re too close to situations to assess them objectively. My natural position is “devils advocate” in order to stimulate thought or debate, and helping someone see, think or act differently than they might usually do to bring them success would in turn be rewarding for me. To think that I can have a positive impact on someone’s career or business is what appeals to me about mentoring.
Q. What do you hope to get out of it?
Mentoring is a two-way street, so as much as I can help by sharing my knowledge and experience, I’m conscious that mentors can also learn themselves from a mentee. In addition – and it is a cliche – but there is also a sense of worth knowing that you’re adding value to someone’s career and life.
Ready to be a mentor?Contact senior marketing executive Jason Winter at jwinter@flymy.co.uk |
