Become a Mentor
Make a difference in a young person’s life by becoming a mentor.
What is mentoring about? Relationship.
Being a mentor is one of the greatest opportunities anyone can experience; however, it is very misunderstood. Just as leadership is actually a servant role, being a mentor is not defined as power, but rather relationship. The character of his relationship with the other person, and the functions that the relationship serves determines the quality of the mentorship. The mentor is committed to the developmental growth of his mentee – not a puppeteer who lives vicariously through his/her new protégé. If you find yourself spending more time talking about yourself, your goals, your faith and your opinions above listening to the mentee, you are not being a mentor. A mentor wants to understand his mentee so he/she can be encouraged toward their personal journey and calling. A mentor can serve his protégé/mentee (or follower) in any of the following ways:
What is a mentor?
A mentor is a source of information.
He has the advantage of experiences in life that the protégé does not; which allows him to share advice, direction, and know-how.
A mentor provides wisdom.
Wisdom means “the skill of living” or knowing what to do next.
A mentor promotes specific skills and effective behaviors
He provides practical encouragement so that the protégé grows emotionally, as well as in other ways.
A mentor provides feedback.
The mentor is a mirror; and commentator. He shares an informed point of view with a long-term strategy for life and loving others.
Honoring our mentors
A mentor is a coach.
As a coach, he prepares and instructs his protégé to win at life.
A mentor is a sounding board.
The mentor provides a protégé the opportunity to test ideas and intuitions before they become agenda and attitudes.
A mentor is someone to turn to.
He is there in times of personal problems and crises so the protégé can learn to trust, be authentic, respect his mentor and engage in an honest and close (father-like) relationship. A mentor engenders that kind of confidence.
A mentor helps devise plans.
Whether one is charting a program for spiritual growth, plotting a career path, deciding on an education or contemplating marriage, a mentor lends perspective and practical advice.
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