Guiding and Growing Together
Start the year with purpose by engaging in the benefits of mentorship. Mentorship is a relationship in which a mentor offers wisdom, guidance, and support to help someone grow personally and professionally. These connections foster mutual learning, creating benefits for both the mentor and the mentee. January is celebrated as International Mentoring Month, a time to honor these impactful relationships and inspire new mentoring opportunities. October 27 is National Mentor Day.
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Key Dates to Celebrate Mentorship
- January: National Mentoring Month—a time to promote the value of mentoring.
- January 17: International Mentoring Day—celebrate by sharing inspiring mentoring stories and organizing events to recognize these powerful connections.
- October 27: National Mentor Day—honor mentors and reflect on their influence.
My Mentoring Journey
While mentoring at Fresh Start Women’s Foundation, I discovered the reciprocal benefits of mentorship. Though my primary role was to guide, I learned just as much in return. What began as a one-year commitment blossomed into a relationship built on mutual respect and shared growth—truly the essence of mentorship.
During a seminar titled “How to Make Challenges Work for You, Not Against You,” I shared my story of overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds. I had no idea how deeply it resonated with the audience until the Fresh Start program director approached me with a unique request: to join their Mentor/Mentee program. I was honored to learn that I had been explicitly requested by Dair Deckart, an incredibly talented artist seeking a mentor who had rebuilt their life, business, or career against daunting challenges.
Accepting this mentorship was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Working with Dair allowed me to support and guide her journey and inspired me to grow in ways I hadn’t anticipated. This partnership exemplified the transformative power of mentorship.
Five Tips for Successful Mentoring
- Reflect on Your Journey
- Recall what you wish you’d known earlier in your career.
- Identify mentors who influenced you and the lessons learned.
- Recognize “mentoring by default” moments where unexpected guidance had a lasting impact.
Personal Story: My family moved to a different school district. On my first day, an English teacher embarrassed me for not knowing how to diagram sentences, which we had not yet learned at my previous school.
My literature teacher, Mrs. Sturgis, noticed my distress in my next class and taught me patiently after class. Her kindness left a lasting impression, and she taught me to help others in their moments of difficulty. She continued to mentor me! As an eighth grader, I had not been exposed to the term mentor/mentee; however, I inadvertently learned the concept, which has carried me with gratitude throughout my career.
- Share Your Knowledge
- Be open about both successes and failures, emphasizing the lessons learned.
- Model leadership skills and values consistently.
- Provide guidance, even in areas outside your expertise, by listening and learning alongside your mentee.
- Offer Perspective and Feedback
- Highlight your mentee’s strengths and areas for growth.
- Provide honest feedback while welcoming their perspective.
- Collaborate on solutions through brainstorming.
- Embrace Mutual Growth
- Foster a two-way exchange of advice and ideas.
- Recognize the value of cross-mentoring—learning from each other.
Personal Experience: In a corporate setting, I introduced cross-mentoring to bridge generational and cultural gaps. Senior staff taught company history and culture, while younger staff shared their technology expertise. The mutual exchange strengthened the workplace culture and relationships. Both sides must be open-minded to learning from each other. Mentoring is a two-way street.
- Set Realistic Expectations
- Understand that you don’t need to have all the answers.
- Overcome challenges with persistence and creativity.
- Encourage mentees to use free resources and engage on social media for growth and networking.
Get Involved and Make a Difference
Whether you’ve been a mentor or a mentee or are considering becoming one, now is the perfect time to start.
Mentorship fosters growth, learning, and lasting connections for both parties. Share your mentoring story to inspire others to join the journey.
It doesn’t have to be a formally scheduled activity; it can be spontaneous and in the moment.
Spotlight on Philanthropy
Discover organizations like Fresh Start Women’s Foundation, which empower individuals through mentorship and other initiatives. Google other resources; they are abundant.
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