In a fast-paced globalized world, work environments can become overwhelming. But do you know you can approach these hurdles through different strategies?
You can be a Mentor or be a Mentee, or a mix of both. All of them have proven benefits that not only allow you to develop yourself professionally but also personally. Mentoring is the guidance that a Mentor provides to their Mentee. This relationship is mainly formed in order to help Mentees with decision-making and provide them with insight, but do you know some of the benefits of being a Mentor?
Mentors are often overlooked, but through these relationships, they are able to demonstrate their leadership skills. Since they are guiding their Mentee on the right path, they need to make conscious and informed decisions that have their Mentee in their best interest. At the same time, being a Mentor allows you to expand your social network, as you will be meeting a lot of other Mentees, Mentors, and possibly different companies.
Continuously Mentors are always learning about their profession as they are presented with new ways of thinking or approaching things that they had not thought about. Maybe their Mentee brought up how they solved a problem and it was new and innovative, which is why, as a Mentor you can learn and implement techniques from your Mentee. Yet, being a Mentee can sound sometimes like being dependent on a person. But if you navigate life on your own, how will you be able to progress?
One of the benefits of being a Mentor is that you can receive invaluable insight from a professional in the field. No matter what your level of experience is, as a Mentee, knowledge coming from your Mentor will always help you. They can help with problem-solving, career development plans, and new ways to approach tasks, among other things. Similarly, because you have a person to rely on, and constantly ask for advice from, you will be accelerating your career path faster than if you were on your own. It is a team of two working for your own benefit, so take advantage of it in the best way possible. Likewise, Mentees will strengthen their communication and leadership skills. When posing problems they will have to define the possible root solutions, and evaluate this with their Mentors. But the only way to send their message across is by good communication skills.
In relation to their leadership skills, they have to direct the conversation and how they would want to approach their topic of concern by their own means. In other words, Mentees will learn how to pose problems with confidence, and integrity and most importantly, start the conversation with their Mentors.
Most of the benefits of being a Mentor and a Mentee are interconnected as they tackle problems together and try to solve them. This is why some people choose to do both, by mentoring they are able to help others and grow but by being a Mentee they are able to receive advice and start fresh whenever they deem necessary.