Mentoring: Teaching 'what' to think as well as 'how' to think

Sir Isaac Newton, the famous English scientist, once said, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” Of course, Newton wasn't literally standing on the shoulders of giants. Newton was explaining that his ideas didn't come from him alone. He relied on the ideas of those who came before him.  Newton’s mentor, Isaac Barrow, described his work as “of an extraordinary genius.” That's the sort of thing a mentor might say about their mentee. 

WHAT IS A MENTOR?
Mentors are like role models that invite a mentee into their world, who spends time with the mentee, who offer their expert guidance, honest feedback and  share insights with the mentee. By doing this they are able to open doors that might otherwise remain closed to a mentee.  Here are some key components:

TIME: Usually they spend a lot more time with a mentee than a counsellor or coach, often face to face. They might even spend time coaching or counselling the mentee, but you give them more than advice - you give them time and bring the mentee into your world.

PLANS: They would challenge mentees with homework and ask them to prepare things for critical discussion. They hold the mentee to account and help them to stay on track with their goals by planning.

ENCOURAGEMENT: Most of all they acknowledge, encourage, praise choices and behaviour and rise up the mentee based on actions, not characteristics. This is perhaps the most important part of the mentor.

CORRECTION: Discipline , correction and instruction when needed. Guts and courage is needed sometimes to offer kind but bold and clear guidance on how to do things and sometimes 'what' to say or do.  

HOW DOES MENTORING DIFFER FROM COACHING?
Coaching helps someone to 'get fit' whether in the business world or in relationship skills. Mentoring, however, is a learning relationship, and is generally focused on long term development. Personal growth, building skills, knowledge, and understanding is the main aim. Mentors may use coaching skills in their conversations, but a wider, more holistic approach, with more sessions and over a longer term allows deep connections and experiences to happen, often with mentor and mentee side-by-side. 

BECOME A MENTEE WITH NEIL
A Mentoring relationship is no small thing. If you think I can help you in your work, relationship or general life, by allowing me into your world and coming into mine then I'd love to talk to you. Email me here with your ideas. 

Finally a video about being a good mentor, which inspired this blog post: