How to Be a Mentor

You’ve been asked to mentor someone.  First, you schedule a meeting.  Then what?  This week the Wily Manager guys talk about how to be a mentor to others.  If you’ve never had a mentor yourself, this will be required reading.

Monday’s Tip: Say no if you’re not committed. Being a Mentor will take time and energy.  If you are unsure if you can commit the effort, you should decline the invitation.

Tuesday’s Tip: Be a Role Model. Your actions will always speak louder than your words, and as a mentor, you will be watched closely.

Wednesday’s Tip: Be an astoundingly great listener. The ability to listen empathetically is a core requirement to be a mentor.  The better your listening skills, the more effective a mentor you will be.

Thursday’s Tip: Don’t pull punches – tell ‘em what they might not want to hear. It is difficult to tell people things they don’t want to hear, but is likely the most important function of being a mentor.

Friday’s Tip: Put some structure around the relationship – a mentorship agreement. A mentorship agreement will document roles and responsibilities of all parties.  This little bit of structure will make any mentoring relationship that much better.