by Wally Bock
http://www.performancetalk.com/
© 2006
If you are considering mentoring a younger person,
here are some things to think about.
Make sure that mentoring is for you. Most effective
mentors truly, deeply enjoy helping younger people grow and develop.
Make sure you're likely to enjoy the process before you take it
on.
Make sure you have the time and flexibility.
If your schedule is already overloaded or you're under stress
at home, you might want to consider holding off on a mentoring
commitment until things are a little less hectic.
Make sure you know what you bring to the table.
None of us is good at everything, but every one of us is really
good at something. If you know what you're good at and what other
things you may bring to the table, you're more likely to be successful.
In his excellent book, Winning, Jack Welch says
that "There is no one right mentor. There are many right
mentors." From your perspective, that means you don't have
to do everything. You aren't the only place that your protégé
should get help.
Make sure you know what kind of people you like
to work with and which ones are hard for you. Mentoring should
be a pleasant relationship for both of you.
Make sure you know what you expect from your
protégé. It's a good idea to tell him or her what
you expect them to do. Clear expectations are vital to a mentoring
relationship.
Make sure you know that a good mentoring relationship
should be a good experience for both of you. You should both enjoy
it. You should both grow and develop. And you should both make
a friend for life.
Mentoring can be one of the most rewarding experiences
of your career or it can be a frustrating and time-consuming trial.
Make sure you know what you're getting into.
