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Many of our fearless leaders are preparing to launch their mentoring programs in January, so they have already started to recruit participants.
But they are a bit anxious about getting enough Mentors signed up to meet the demand. Their concern? People are “too busy” and “burned out.”
Ironically, that is often why people do mentor!
If you are invited to participate in a formal mentoring program or informally by an individual, consider the 13 reasons to mentor:
1. You want to be a leader.
Leaders share their wisdom to help others grow. Don’t wait for a leadership title! Be a mentor and start leading immediately.
2. You want to strengthen your leadership skills.
Mentoring offers a safe space to practice essential leadership skills such as encouraging new ways of thinking, developing a strategic direction, offering feedback and guidance, influencing growth and accountability, and recognizing excellence.
3. You miss feeling connected in this disconnected time.
This work-from-home-or-behind-a-mask environment demands the intentionality and structure of mentoring to stay connected to and engaged with colleagues.
4. You are eager to learn and grow.
Through the experience of mentoring others, you expand your own perspective, challenge your own assumptions, spark your own confidence, rethink your own goals, and improve your own problem-solving.
I thanked a very busy nurse today for mentoring two new nurses, and she responded immediately, “It’s a blessing both ways! I’m learning so much!”
5. You want to resurrect and reinforce your insights and learnings.
As management guru Peter Drucker said, “No one learns as much about a subject as one who is forced to teach it.” By articulating your own wisdom for a Mentee, you will fortify it for yourself.
6. You feel a need to rekindle your passion for your profession.
A nurse Mentor reflected recently, “Being a mentor renewed my love of nursing! Reminded me why I chose this career!”
7. You were inspired by someone else’s generosity toward you.
You feel altruistically compelled to pay it forward because someone mentored you.
8. … or you wish someone had mentored you.
You have the opportunity to make the experience a bit better for the next person.
9. You want to help your team/department/organization.
Whether the mentoring program is focused on onboarding new people, retaining good people, or preparing eager people to transition, your participation has a strategic impact.
10. You crave a little more joy on the job.
A new connection and some fresh conversations can break the monotony of meetings and give you something fun to anticipate.
11. You like giving advice.
…and you want to give it to someone hungry to get it and ready to take action on it!
12. You are committed to leading by example.
Dr. Laurie Ecoff, VP of Nursing Excellence at Sharp Healthcare, Adjunct Professor at UCSD, and President of ACNL (Association of California Nurse Leaders), is always the first to sign up to mentor and the first to attend every mentoring program event. When I inquired why someone as stretched as she makes time to participate, she said she sets an example through her actions.
13. You want to make a difference.
With mentoring, you will always make a difference for someone else.
“I’m not a teacher, but an awakener.” ~ Robert Frost, poet
© 2021. Ann Tardy and Mentor Lead. www.mentorlead.com |
