Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Complete the Circle - Share your Experience

In this POST we have another one of the many great tips suggested by Nicole Williams, in her October 25, 2011 article called:   Women and Mentoring in the U.S.

We encourage you to read her entire article when you have a moment. 

< http://blog.linkedin.com/2011/10/25/mentoring-women/ >


One of the things that we've found with those who have truly benefited from their Mentorship relationship, is the deep sense of appreciation and gratitude for the 'gift' that someone else gave to them, in sharing their time and experience with them.  When the Mentoring process had run its course and the Mentee is looking to move on, here is some great advise. We encourage you to complete the circle and share your experience with someone else in a Mentoring relationship. 

Quid Pro Quo: While the purpose of having a mentor is to further your learning and career, don’t forget that mentorship is a two-way street.  You’re going to get more out of your relationship with your mentor if you (a) don’t expect them to do the heavy lifting for you, (b) you make it easy on them (think closer to her office than yours when meeting face-to-face and (c) they are receiving something in return for their help.
Don’t underestimate the effects of reciprocity. While you want your gift back to be as work-related as possible, you can make the gift as thoughtful as possible. For e.g. save your mentee time that she can spend on you. Whether it’s taking care of her kids or organizing her closet, you need to show your mentor that you’re grateful for their guidance — and, frankly,  actions speak louder than words.

Additional opportunities to learn more about Mentorship are available for you right NOW, on our YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/ProvisionMentorship 

No comments: