My previous post talked about five tips for becoming a life-changing mentor. Below is the second half of the list. Enjoy:
1. Be open to the learning. If you think you know it all, realize that you have so much further to go. My supervisor once said that she loved master level clinicians so much more than bachelor level ones. Her reason was because bachelor level clinicians thought they knew everything, whereas master level clinicians knew they had so much more to learn. As mentors and leaders, there’s always more to learn. Every time I think I have it down, something happens to put me back in my place and show me I have more to learn. Embrace learning as an ongoing process that has endless roads and no end in the destination.
2. Plug in accountability checks. To be a great mentor we need to put in a system of checks and balances. Meet with your mentee monthly or more to discuss how the mentoring is going and what would be more helpful. Don’t tell them how they’re doing—ask how you’re doing. Be open to their feedback, suggestions and requests. There is nothing like learning from our students how to better teach—be daring enough to be curious.
3. Stay CALM at all costs. In almost every teaching relationship the student will make mistakes; this is part of the learning process. Expect mistakes. KNOW there will be mistakes. Be calm in response to mistakes. Be calm in your teaching. Stay centered in your anger. Be respectful in your upset. Challenge, teach, lead…do not admonish, shame or snap at your mentees.
4. Encourage your mentees to try new things, learn from their mistakes and take risks. Do not try to ensure your mentees don’t make mistakes. A great mentor teaches their mentees to have the courage to think outside the box and forge new pathways rather than sticking with the status quo. They teach their mentees to become great leaders, teachers and change agents. They teach them to go beyond the job and reach the height of their fullest potential. Teach your mentees to try new things, fall and get up again.
5. Hold your mentees accountable to walk the same walk with others as you are walking with them. They also need to be accountable, respectful, humble, attentive, etc. with those they teach and work with. The core principles required to become a powerful mentor are also required to create a life-changing work environment. Don’t just talk it—live it. Encourage those you teach to live it as well.
Being a life-changing mentor requires courage, integrity, a belief in abundance and humility. Mentoring is vital to our world’s future. There are too many people getting too little help to do too many powerful things. Dare to push yourself to be a life-changing mentor rather than an average boss. The rewards to you, your organization, your mentees and our world are far more powerful than you’re likely to imagine.
CHALLENGE: Look over the list above and objectively rate yourself as a life-changing mentor. Choose one area to work on and diligently work it. Continue down the list, enhancing your mentoring skills in each area until you feel you’ve mastered them all. Add qualities to your own list. For those who have had great mentors, please share with us what made them great. For those who have not had great mentors, let us know what you’d like to see in a mentor. I’m eager to learn and to teach, so please send in your tips.