I’ve been having conversations with special people these days, one of the major remarks I shared with them is:
“Everyone of us is where we are today because someone gave us an opportunity, someone put a word on our favor. So, being grateful and pay it forward is a must.”
Therefore, I’ll go a bit further with additional thoughts on mentorship:
Why Mentorship? Receiving guidance, instructions, orders are not mentorship. These are activities oriented actions, focused on standardization and consistency.
In Process Management human touch is an “input”, however in Decision Making judgement is the “differenciator”. In this context, Mentorship is the most effective vehicle to improve judgement over time.
It is a matter of Value sharing. This is an important one, mentorship principal resource is the time of the mentor and the mentee. Therefore, Value sharing both ways is fundamental because of the opportunity cost factor.
Focus on the long-term. Mentorship is not a one time conversation and done! It is more a transformational continuum. Every life experience, conversation, reflection are inputs for iterations.
All of the above comes down to Relationships building and, that’s why this is the assignment.
In order to share the best from us, we must first fulfill our own with clarity of purpose, strong values foundation, genuine relationships, people who bet on us. Individualism just bring the spark, keeping the flame alive is a collective effort where heat nurture everyone who collaborate with that endeavor.
Will you do a real effort to forge long-term relationships? I hope you do!!