Truth You Can Act On:

1. Understand what makes a good mentor. Think back to a mentor who has truly impacted your career and life journey. All of us probably have a certain name, or multiple names, in mind. It’s easy to go into full-on coaching mode, but listening is huge when it comes to mentoring. Connecting with people and being available to your mentees is also important - it won’t cut it to meet with a mentee every six months. A good mentor also provides guidance to take action; they provide a path for their mentee, by sharing personal experiences and stories.
2. Understand what makes a good mentee. As humans, we are never done learning. And in that case, we should all consider ourselves mentees. You have to be willing to learn - and to be vulnerable and share that. If you commit to the process and have consistent time laid out with your mentor, the relationship will blossom. Lastly, it’s important to be grateful for your mentor - express gratitude, say thank you, and also give feedback so your mentor can learn what works or what they should work on.
3. Consider a workplace mentoring program. Physical programs are much more valuable than giving your employees links to online resources. Important components to effective programs include: training, structure, matching and data.

Full Shownotes:

• https://gutplusscience.com/valentines-2019