There is a striking image that grabbed my attention early in my researching of Mentorship. You’ll likely recognize the image as well as the artist. The image is from, “The Creation of Adam" by Michelangelo, and it was painted on to the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel c.1508–1512. While I wasn’t there personally at the time of it being painted, I did have opportunity to see to it several years ago when visiting Rome and the Vatican.
And while we typically acknowledge that the Mentee is intended to receive value from a Mentoring relationship, what does the Mentor receive? Shouldn't the Mentor also benefit from having participated in the Mentorship relationship?
The answer in my opinion and experience with good mentoring relationships is that BOTH the Mentee and the Mentor can gain value from the experience. As one of the Mentors in our very first Mentorship Program so aptly responded when I asked why he was a Mentor: “I love to give back and help others, and being a Mentor helps to keep me sharp!"
To quote Lois J. Zachary, a well know authority on Mentorship and author: “Mentoring is a reciprocal learning relationship in which mentoring partners agree to a partnership in which they work collaboratively toward achieving mutually defined goals that focus on developing mentee skills, abilities, knowledge, and/or thinking.”
Here are a few of the Benefits of Mentorship that we’ve seen for entrepreneurs …
Benefits for Protégés (Mentees):
· Receive support and advice on strategic, technical, financial and ethical issues
· Increase the chances of succeeding in business
· Learn business strategies and techniques in a non-threatening way
· Grow through greater awareness of challenges and opportunities available
· Introduced to other business resources and networks
Benefits for Mentors:
· Positively influence another individual by sharing skills, values and experiences
· Enjoy the satisfaction of seeing others succeed
· Make productive use of own knowledge and individual expertise
· Enhance technical, communication and leadership skills
· Expand professional contacts through interaction with other Mentors
· Revitalize interest in own work through connection to new entrepreneurial energy
· Boost self-esteem through recognition by Protégé (Mentee), peers and community
· Receive support and advice on strategic, technical, financial and ethical issues
· Increase the chances of succeeding in business
· Learn business strategies and techniques in a non-threatening way
· Grow through greater awareness of challenges and opportunities available
· Introduced to other business resources and networks
Benefits for Mentors:
· Positively influence another individual by sharing skills, values and experiences
· Enjoy the satisfaction of seeing others succeed
· Make productive use of own knowledge and individual expertise
· Enhance technical, communication and leadership skills
· Expand professional contacts through interaction with other Mentors
· Revitalize interest in own work through connection to new entrepreneurial energy
· Boost self-esteem through recognition by Protégé (Mentee), peers and community
To close, defining the perimeters and boundaries on "the front end" provides important direction over the life of the Mentoring relationship. We’ve used Mentoring Agreements that are negotiated between the Mentor and Mentee to set "the ground rules" that guide participants forward.
Our experience has been that both the Protégé (Mentee) and the Mentor should see benefit from this important relationship. Both should be able to look back over their experience and feel that they’ve seen individual growth and development that leaves them better prepared as they move forward and help others find success!
PLEASE feel free to share your comments to our post.
We'd be very pleased to hear from you and let others benefit from comments related to your experiences for improving Mentoring Relationships.
QUESTION: Could you benefit from having a Business COACH and MENTOR?
IF the ANSWER is YES ... Take a look at our "NEXT Steps Program!
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For more information see:
"Option 3 – “PVS – NEXT Steps - Business Coaching & Mentoring Program”
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