Mentoring involves relationships of a teacher and a learner, whereby the mentor is playing the advisory and supervisory role for the mentee being the learner. I believe the expectation of a mentor has to be properly fixed before commencing the mentor-mentee relationship.
Expectation between the Mentor and Mentee has to be fixed before the commencement of the relationship. Mentoring relationships involve a high level of trust to make it happen. It consists of a certain level of openness between the mentor and mentee.
Read also: Sharpen Your Axe with your Mentor
Mentoring is about building meaningful relationships between both parties. It is not about making a person wrong or being inferior in any way. It is always about holding the person higher than we are. A permission from the mentee must be provided before the mentor can be the person who they should be in order to ensure the success of the mentee.
Always remember that mentoring is about seeing the GREATNESS in the mentee. The key is to EMPOWER the mentee to be who they should be. Everyone has their strength within them. A great mentor is the person who is able to awaken the giant within them. We need to have the mindset of upgrading the mentor-mentee relationship to a mentor-mentor relationship! One day, we are able to learn from our mentee.
Read also: Path-Goal Leadership Theory
Giving recognition to the mentee is important. Recognition serves as a form of gratitude and encouragement. We give recognition to our mentee for the effort they have put to make themselves a greater person, at the same time, we are expressing our gratitude to them for believing in us to lead them to be a better person. We cannot motivate a person, but only to inspire a person. Providing appropriate recognition will ease our effort in empowering the mentor.
A mediocre mentor tells you what to do, a great mentor inspires you.
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JJ Phang is currently the Executive Director of Melaka Region.
JJ Phang formally served as President (02), Network Education Coordinator (01), Mentor Coordinator (01), Membership Committee (02) and Event Coordinator (04) of BNI Smart Biz, Hall of Fame Chapter. JJ Phang was also the Director Consultant of BNI Extreme Chapter, Melaka Region.
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