Being a mentor entails guiding someone who is new to a particular discipline. Mentors typically have a track record of expertise in a specific field, as well as the ability to communicate that knowledge and experience in a way that is understandable to a newcomer to that field. While mentoring has been practiced for centuries, the assignment of a mentor to people who need to improve their understanding or appreciation of a trade, art form, or field of employment has seen a resurgence in the twenty-first century. Here’s what you need to do if you want to be a mentor.
A thorough understanding and base of knowledge in relation to the discipline in question is an important aspect of working as a mentor. Because the primary responsibility of a mentor is to assist students in gaining proficiency in a discipline, the mentor must also act as a tutor or teacher. Throughout the teaching process, the mentor will inform the student about requirements related to the discipline’s function, provide information about any requirements or qualifications that employers or clients are likely to expect, and ensure that the student grows into a competent and talented practitioner.
Along with providing information and knowledge in an organized and easy-to-understand manner, becoming a mentor also entails knowing when to give advice and when to let the student figure things out on his or her own. Unexpected situations can arise in any field of expertise, and learning how to apply general principles to a specific situation is an important part of the mentoring process. The mentor creates an environment in which the student can hone his or her skills to the point where they no longer require the services of a mentor by remaining nearby while the student assesses the situation and comes up with a solution.
Depending on the mentoring environment, the basic steps to becoming a mentor will vary. Adults who want to be mentors for children, for example, usually go through a screening process to ensure they have the necessary skills to help the child. In the workplace, becoming a mentor usually necessitates a Human Resources assessment to determine if the individual possesses the unique combination of knowledge, experience, and teaching ability required to assist a new hire in becoming a productive employee.
In a less formal setting, it is also possible to become a mentor. An individual or family who has recently joined a house of worship, for example, may be assigned a mentor to assist them in settling into the social and spiritual opportunities available within the congregation. People who have recently moved into the community may benefit from community mentors who can help them learn their way around by pointing them in the right direction for necessities like supermarkets, restaurants, and other points of interest.
In order to become a mentor, you must have a genuine desire to help others and the determination to follow through on that desire. Even those with a strong skill set and the ability to teach will struggle to be effective mentors if they lack that strong commitment.