Mentoring is one of the most effective ways to grow people’s careers. But it’s hard to know where to start. When it comes to mentorship. It’s important to remember that a mentor is not only an expert teacher. A mentor is also someone who will listen to you. And help you navigate the choppy waters of adulthood. They’ll lend an ear. They’ll help you find new ways to challenge yourself. This insightful article on the four pillars of high-impact mentoring is from Anthony Todd Johnson.
What Is Mentorship And Why Does It Matter?
So what is mentorship? And why is it so important?
Well, mentorship is a relationship between a mentor and a mentee. A mentor is someone who has been trained to provide guidance and support to the mentee. The mentorship relationship is built on trust and openness, Which allows the mentee to express themselves and the mentor to provide guidance. It is a two-way process between the mentor and the mentee. It is an important relationship that should be nourished and nurtured. With the hope of one day becoming a long-term and valued part of the mentee’s life.
It is an essential ingredient for success that is vital to every student’s development. Mentorship is how a teacher provides guidance, support, and encouragement to a student. Mentors provide expertise to a student on a particular topic. They also introduce the student to the concept of working with peers to build a strong personal network. The benefits to both the mentor and the protégé are numerous and extend beyond the classroom.
The Four Pillars of Mentoring By Anthony Todd Johnson
Below, I’ll show you the four fundamental pillars of high-impact mentoring. listening, guiding, understanding, and supporting. A mentor’s influence on the mentee is inseparable from the mentor-mentee relationship. You’ll learn how to use each one to help your mentee grow, develop, and succeed.
1. Listening
Listening is the first of the four fundamental pillars of mentorship. It’s the most important ability to develop. Because it’s the ability to understand and consider what the mentee is saying. This doesn’t mean you just listen and nod while the mentee drones on. It means that you pay attention to what they’re saying, without interrupting or correcting them. Mentoring is a two-way process, so it’s important to show that you’re listening as much as you’re asking to be listened to.
2. Guiding
Guiding is the second of the four fundamental pillars of mentorship. According to Anthony Todd Johnson It’s the ability to provide direction to the mentee, without constantly interrupting or correcting them. A good mentor knows when to help the mentee navigate a tough situation, and when to back off and allow the mentee to learn on their own. By doing this, you serve as a guide, and your mentee sees you as someone who will provide direction when needed but also respects when the mentee needs to go on their own.
They’ll respect you when you don’t try to steer them in a particular direction. This doesn’t mean you never offer feedback, but it means that you do so when the mentee asks for it and not when they don’t.
3. Understanding
Understanding is the third pillar of mentorship, and it’s the most important. It’s the foundation of the relationship between mentor and mentee. And even though it’s crucial, it’s often neglected. Understanding builds trust and deepens relationships.
You need to understand the people you mentor to help them grow. You may not understand everything that they’re going through, but you should understand how to help, and when to help. When they ask for mentoring guidance, you should know how to answer, and you should be able to provide suggestions for how they can improve their situation, even if they don’t ask for them. You should be able to help them.
4. Supporting
Supporting is the fourth pillar of mentoring. By supporting your mentee, you encourage them to keep going when they’re feeling down, stressed, or unsure of themselves, which is exactly what they need to feel during a tough time. It’s super important because when your mentee feels unsupported, they’ll struggle to keep going. They’ll feel like giving up and throwing in the towel.
Mentors help their mentees navigate tough situations, whether the landmines are under tall grass or lying in plain sight. They ensure their mentees are safe and able to learn and grow. They give their mentees a reason to keep going when the going gets tough.
Supporting your mentees builds their self-confidence and helps them feel valued and competent. It also helps them learn how to advocate for themselves.
Conclusion
In summary, mentorship is a valuable asset for student development. It is an important experience for young people. It can have a tremendous impact on them when done well. Hence, it is essential that we dedicate time and resources to cultivating an environment that is safe, supportive, and affirming for mentees. I am sure this article by Anthony was helpful. Any feedback in the comments below is appreciated.
