What Is Mentoring?

The word "mentoring" comes from the earliest of historical times. The Greek storyteller Homer wrote about the Ithaca king, who asked his friend Mentor to take care of his son Telemachus while he went away to fight the Trojan War. In time, the word also meant adviser, trusted friend or teacher. Some researchers say that mentors were common in Africa long before this Greek civilization.

Types

Almost everyone has a mentor sometime during her life. It can be a teacher, friend, clergy member, parent, professional, coach or fellow employee. These people are able to provide needed support and guidance because of their wealth of experience and knowledge in certain areas. They also act as a role model.

Student Mentors

Mentors help older school-aged youth with their studies and any personal problems. They also give advice on job hunting, colleges and future careers. Similarly, mentors serve as advisers to college students who need help with adjustment or with decisions about school or work after graduation.

Business Mentors

Mentoring is used often in businesses to help new employees make the transition from a college setting to the business world. Mentors help employees with decision making, promotions, goal setting and career direction. Frequently, workers just need someone to listen to their concerns and challenges and point them in the right direction.

Personality

Mentors have certain personality traits that make them more likely candidates for helping others. They have an interest in helping others, an ability to think out of the box, a desire to motivate people, and an understanding of the culture shared with the person being mentored, be it at school or at a place of employment. Mentors are effective communicators and listen well to others.

Benefits

Mentoring is a two-way system. It helps the person being mentored, but it also benefits the mentor. The mentors feel better about themselves, since they are helping others, acquiring new skills in coaching and learning new things about themselves. In the workplace they are often promoted, due to their efforts.

Training

Do not assume that everyone will make a good mentor. Even when someone has the right personality characteristics, it is important to attend some type of training, to learn about the expectations of the program and the best ways to provide support to others.