PERSONAL SPECIAL................... THE CRAFT OF MENTORING

THE CRAFT OF MENTORING

MADHURI SINGH (SERCO GLOBAL SERVICES) DISCUSSES EFFECTIVE MENTORSHIP

    Becoming a mentor happens in tandem with a person’s growth. Many a times, it happens instinctively, as one crosses different phases in life but more importantly, there are certain conscious strides that propel one to become a consummate mentor.

    Below are a few things one should pursue to prepare themselves to wear the hat of mentorship.

Lend ears to connect:

Building a relationship is one of the key pillars to successful mentoring and ‘sound listening’ creates a bridge for this relationship to blossom.While a mentor’s role does not stop here, it’s at this point where the wisdom collected over the years plays a key role in shaping the mentee. As a mentor, listen thoroughly, interpret carefully and advice if necessitated. After all, mentors are worshiped as trusted advisors. Many a times, mentors act as an outlet and help in the cathartic process of an individual.

Offer help beyond the professional realm:

Mentorship takes place at several levels, be it professional, personal, spiritual or intellectual. A person can have multiple mentors for the same. But in corporate settings, a

mentor must not limit themselves to only providing professional guidance but also go beyond. A mentor is equivalent to a ‘godfather’ who dons the responsibility of the overall development of the mentee, taking into account their professional as well as emotional needs. Re-inventing self: Being a specialist in their chosen field is indispensable for a mentor.There is no hesitation in stating that a mentor is an amalgamation of years of experience that accounts for the unmatched wisdom. At the same time, it is also essential to improvise with changing times. A mentor is mostly considered a ‘know it all person’, therefore be it any age; mentors should always work towards enriching their skills and stay abreast. In any mentormentee relation, knowledge is the foremost thing that garners respect.

Humility can never go wrong: Being a mentor is directly proportional to being approachable. A mentor- mentee relation can only flourish if there are no bars between them. In the first place, if you are indifferent to people and consider yourself highbrow because of the knowledge you have, there is no soul that will open themselves in front of you and therefore the whole purpose of mentorship is defeated here. A mentor, irrespective of the gargantuan accolades has to display humility and a sense of responsibility.

The most important role of a mentor is to assist a mentee in reaching their optimum best and it is essential to create a familiar and trustworthy face that can be fallen back on at any time in life. A good mentor is one who has truly mastered the art of giving. Remember, a mentor is only as good as his/her progenies!  

- The author is SVP–special projects, Serco Global Services

TOI 140305