Interested in Becoming a Mentor?
Fill in our Mentor Registration form or
Email our Mentorship Director, Christina Skinner, @ mentorship@kwib.org
Mentors
What is Mentorship?
Mentorship is a relationship that provides an avenue for growth and development, primarily for the mentee but often for the mentor too.
“A mentoring relationship is one that is built on trust, in which there is an exchange of
knowledge, experience and goodwill. In developmental mentorships, the focus is on the
development of the mentee’s capacity, rather than just the handing down of advice or solutions. In
developmental mentorships, the mentee builds their ability to navigate new waters, with the help of
the mentor. And the mentor often learns a great deal from the mentee in return. So the relationship is
very much two-way.”
~ Art of Mentoring
What makes a successful mentor?
While there are many different types of mentorship, the KWIB program encourages the
developmental / coaching / advising style. Often this means to best understand the mentees
goals and how to successfully mentor them, good communication is key. While your individual
personality and particular knowledge will be unique to you and your mentorship style, there are
a few guidelines that are found across successful mentorship relationships:
– Good listening skills
– Flexibility
– Respect for Diverse Perspectives
– Experience
– Positivity
– Knowledge
– Honesty
– Provide Constructive Feedback
– Commitment
– Enthusiasm
– Emotional Intelligence
– Life Long Learner
Benefits of becoming a Mentor
In addition to a free KWIB membership, here are just a few ways becoming a mentor can have a remarkable impact on your life.
Opportunity to Give Back
Sharing your knowledge and experiences
with another can significantly change a
mentee’s life and business trajectory. You can
help them avoid common pitfalls, recommend
best practices, and point them towards their
goals. This can be immensely satisfying and
further women’s goals and dreams.
Enhance Communication Skills
Good mentoring involves effectively communicating your internal knowledge through storytelling, clear explanations, and written documents. Mentees may respond
well to certain types of communication, while others fall short. As a result, you may need to enhance your communication skills for the
best possible results.
Boost Your Leadership Skills
Mentees outline their expectations, but it is up to you to lay out the path needed to get them to the finish line. As a result, mentorship offers a unique opportunity to practice and improve your own personal leadership and coaching style.
However, mentorship relationships aren’t all about business. You may need to support them and help them overcome self-doubt. This may include learning new skills you can use during this evolving process.
Exposure to New Perspectives
Even if you are well-versed in an aspect of business, your mentee may approach it differently. They may challenge the status quo
with a fresh perspective and novel ideas.
It will be up to you to work through these concepts, point out the positives and negatives, and pick up tips and tricks along the way. There’s no single solution and your mentee may have stronger skills than you in some areas. For instance, some mentees may be more adept in technology or more accustomed to using social media.
Empower Other Women
Women continually improve their positions in the workforce, but it is a slow process. They need mentors to show them that it is possible to succeed and what they did to obtain success.
Successful women prove that it can be done. They can share their lows, how they overcame them, and how other women can follow suit. This leads to a network of like-minded women, always more powerful than individuals trying to make their way on their own.
Build Authentic Relationships
The mentor/mentee relationship is deep and authentic. Consequently, mentorships often turn into lasting friendships.
Understanding how a person thinks is always irreplaceable and mentoring often involves sharing very personal information. You may help a mentee overcome a fear of public speaking, finance, or sales. No matter what, you’ll likely forge a strong connection.
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