Over the last few years I think I’ve not enjoyed anything more than mentoring. It’s been totally rewarding. I really wished I’d invested more sooner. But I’m there now, and hopefully accelerating.
A few things that I look for as table stakes are:
- They choose you, but in saying yes you need to see something special in them too. Can’t do just in the motions.
- Quantity not quality. Two mentees is a max for me, and with that regular space and time. Finding an hour once a week is ideal.
- Trust and two-way. I’ve learnt as much from working with mentees as hopefully they have from me. But that’s a two way game.
So in that, the double edge?
Yup.
I’ve found a big outcome of mentoring is an elevation in confidence, ambition, dreams, belief. There is nothing more rewarding in being a part of the unlock of those things. But sometimes it might not be in service of what’s in front of you personally.
My thoughts are with that there may be a day where a mentee comes to you and says partially on the back of working together, they are flying into bigger things. Awesome? Completely. When they work in your team it’s a double edge sword.
You absolutely want them to fly strong, but you also really value their contribution and unforgettableness in your team.
I’d choose supporting them to fly every time.
Thoughts on a Thing 