“A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ability within you, than you see in yourself, and helps bring it out of you.” — Bob Proctor

We need a mentor to support us, from our childhood to our all-time life journey at every distinct level we need mentors to guide us and to demonstrate the path to go. Mentors have several qualities which we can learn and utilize to increase our potential. They offer guidance which can add an extra layer of support to our career. Beside this, successful mentor goal settings can help us in arriving at the solution to a problem.

So if you've accomplished any level of professional success, it's likely that other experts assisted you in this process. A mentor can be a colleague on your job or a contact from college while doing the internship. In other words, most people start their career journey from the bottom and lead it to the pinnacle but they don’t often do it alone. As they need a support system to guide them on their path to success.

What is a Mentor?

We have heard on numerous occasions that everyone needs a mentor in their work. Just like a friend that you need to support you in the ups and downs of life. So no matter what stage of life you are in, you want people to provide the same level of support in your career. 

And mentors can be the best source of support and direction anytime you're looking for a job, adjusting to a new function, seeking promotion, or pursuing a novel route down a difficult path.

However, what characteristics define effective leadership? We will reveal the method used to locate and retain the ideal mentor for you.

A mentor is someone who gives you the knowledge, direction, encouragement, and feedback which you need to succeed in your work. Muse career coach Brad Finkeldei says, mentors are often someone who have been through the wrong on the same road on which you are currently heading ahead. They further state “mentors are there to advise you on what they’ve done and what’s worked for them”. 

A mentor can be anyone, a friend, friend of a friend, a family member, relative, neighbor, colleague, coworker, former boss or someone you got to know through a networking event. 

A mentor is not someone you aspire to; rather, they should be able to contribute consistently to your life over  time. 

They are information and opportunity hubs that can give you access to perspectives, context, and experiences that you might not otherwise have or just have a limited understanding of. So mentors assist you in getting over dilemmas and can help you get unstuck. 

When you are struggling to come up with a solution to a problem then they can offer you the support to make the best suitable decisions. A mentor can also assist you in expanding your professional network since they know how to link you with people who can point you in the correct path. So mentorship can expand your network as creating a strong community of people is always fruitful for our career.

Skills to Become a Mentor

Not all the mentors have similar mindsets or creativity. However, the top mentors have a few key characteristics. And if you're thinking about having a mentor-mentee connection with someone, you might search for these qualities in them. So here some prime skills of a mentor are described:

Expertise and Knowledge

Your mentor should have a relevant background; this would enable them to propel you forward because they have been there. As it helps in knowing what it takes to become successful.

“Having some sort of commonality can also be really helpful because that’s usually what can bring that relationship together,” Dea adds.

You should make sure that this person is not more than five or ten years senior to you. In other words, someone who is 20 or 30 years old has a wealth of experience to share. But they may also be removed from where you are as they can’t relate to your situation and provide actionable advice. 

The dynamic work culture is constantly altering and in such an era, it is essential to have common practices with your mentor. This would allow them to guide you exactly in the same way as you need.

Enthusiasm for Sharing the Knowledge

It is essential that your mentor must be willing to share the knowledge and expertise they have. They shouldn't be someone who reluctantly shares information with the expectation of receiving a figurative reward in return. Moreover, they should not divulge information in a hazy, deceptive manner.

They must be receptive and eager to help you in spreading the information. The best mentors provide the advice not because they want themselves to be heard but because they genuinely desire to provide benefit to others.

Respectful Attitude

You don't want someone who humiliates you, degrades you or is connected to you badly, and eventually tarnishes your reputation, right? So a mentor should act with a respectful attitude. A good mentor is one who, at the time of acting in a less than respectful manner, instantly acknowledges it and apologizes. 

Reflective Listening

Your mentor should ask the questions instead of just telling you what to do. They should show that they are actually curious to know about what you are up to and the reasons for it.  

Curiosity is essential as “you want someone who can relate to you from your perspective,” says Finkeldei. People frequently want to force their own opinions on others, which can be detrimental to a successful mentor. Therefore, look for someone you can rely on to consider your values and ideas rather than forcibly imposing their own ideologies on you.

Observation

A mentor should have observation skills as it enables them to analyze the actions and behaviors of a mentee. Aside from that, being observant can allow a mentor to understand how to work with a mentee.  

So by being a good observant a mentor can use effective communication strategies to connect with the individuals and enhance their morale.

Conclusion

Mentors are crucial for both professional and personal growth. Choosing a mentor is not as complicated as we think as you can find one that fits you. In other words, a perfect mentor can bring a rewarding experience for you. This will enable you to find the best version of yourself and gain long-life support in the process. With This mentorship is essential for entrepreneurs also as it can guide them through complex decisions.

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