Did you know that the function of a mentor was already known in ancient times?
According to legend, when Odysseus was going to fight at Troy, he entrusted his son Telemachus to the care of a proven friend, Mentor. This character was played by Athena, the goddess of wisdom. Under her wing, Telemachus grew into a brave and courageous man who set out to find his father. The social function of mentoring survives to this day.
Today, following the EMCC definition, mentoring is understood as “[…] a learning relationship involving the sharing of skills, knowledge and experience, between mentor and mentee, through developmental conversations, shared experiences and role modeling. The relationship can encompass many different contexts and is an inclusive, two-way partnership for mutual learning that values differences.” The very relationship based on learning from experience operates in most cultures we know. Sharing knowledge enables talent and personality development within a company, school or family.
A mentor points out opportunities and perspectives, helps celebrate successes and learn from failures. It is a gateway to a hitherto unknown world, through which we have a unique opportunity to expand our horizons.
The role of a mentor or mentee requires removing oneself from the shadows and voluntarily engaging in the other person’s development. Although they will never do specific work for the mentee, they participate in the transformation process and accompany the mentee on the road to success. However, all responsibility for life and career choices rests with the mentored person.
Despite their experience, mentors are not experts in every field. They have their chosen area, and they impart knowledge in a synthetic and useful way. Experience alone is not enough. A professional mentor or mentee can share knowledge and experience not in the form of traditional teaching. The role involves guiding a complex development process: from theory to practice, from basic skills to mastering them at a master level.
To summarize:
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if you want to engage in mentoring, you must be able and willing to share knowledge, experience and be able to monitor progress and support the other person;
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When deciding to mentor as a mentee, look for one whose area of expertise overlaps with yours. Only experts who have your journey behind them will understand you and support you accordingly.
When you find the right person, you will notice changes from week to week. I do not promise that it will be easy, however, I assure you that it will certainly be effective.
