How to Carry Out Mentoring in an Active Manner
One of the myths about mentoring is that it only consists of an experienced professional giving advice to a more junior person.
In reality mentoring is not about advice at all. It is about listening and offering support and perspective. Perhaps something you have learnt that might help.
And people in very senior positions benefit from this sharing of experience. Head teachers have a challenging and sometimes lonely role. They are expected to set an example, manage budgets, recruit great teachers and by doing all of this improve their schools. In all of this they can benefit from, for example, spending some time with a business leader who can give them a new way of thinking.
Benjamin Franklin said "Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn." Somebody once said that an expert is a person who knows just a bit more than everybody else. We can all learn and to stop doing so is the ultimate arrogance. Being prepared to listen and learn and also to help another's development are fulfilling learning experiences for all concerned.
In reality mentoring is not about advice at all. It is about listening and offering support and perspective. Perhaps something you have learnt that might help.
And people in very senior positions benefit from this sharing of experience. Head teachers have a challenging and sometimes lonely role. They are expected to set an example, manage budgets, recruit great teachers and by doing all of this improve their schools. In all of this they can benefit from, for example, spending some time with a business leader who can give them a new way of thinking.
Benjamin Franklin said "Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn." Somebody once said that an expert is a person who knows just a bit more than everybody else. We can all learn and to stop doing so is the ultimate arrogance. Being prepared to listen and learn and also to help another's development are fulfilling learning experiences for all concerned.
Other Sources
See this great article on mentoring which among other things describes the typical cycle of a mentoring relationship, discusses reverse mentoring (see below) and discusses the value of mentoring in the context of an aging population.
Personal Examples
The Biter Bit. One of the very curious and fascinating things about being a mentor is that often you learn from your mentee. I was discussing time management with a person I was officially mentoring and was given a lesson in how to block out personal time to create space in a busy day to think. Those who think they know everything are disillusioned.
- Mentoring is about listening and providing support.
- Even headmasters and presidents can benefit from mentoring.
- Learn from your mentee.
