Damian PereraMonitoring & Evaluation Specialist| ChrysalisMellawagedara, Western Province, Sri Lanka
Mentoring is known as a reciprocal relationship, which helps both mentor & mentee.
Have you ever been a mentor or mentee? How has mentoring contributed to your career development? Saving Changes...
Mentoring might not directly help in my career development, but I do it for two reasons:
1. I benefited earlier in my career from a few seasoned, patient practitioners who helped to smooth out some of my rougher edges, so I'd like to pay it back
2. It aligns well with my true calling, which is teaching but with mentoring, I get the benefit of seeing a mentee achieve a desired objective which doesn't always happen when you teach
Kiron Saving Changes...
Dinah YoungProject Manager / Software Asset Manager| Prince William CountySpringfield, Va, United States
Truthfully, over my career there were many times that I wanted a mentor to get advice from, talk over issues I may have been having or just to level set what I was doing or needed to do. Unfortunately I was not able to find anyone that I trusted. So I observed managers and co-workers and noted what qualities I wanted to emulate and those things that I wanted to avoid.
Now, because of what I struggled with throughout my career, I look for opportunities where I can mentor others. Sometimes it is a one time event, other times it is ongoing. I do the same in my personal life. I enjoy helping people work through any confusion, lack of confidence, lack of direction or just talking through their plans for their career. Saving Changes...
Thomas WalentaGlobal Project Economy ExpertHackenheim, Germany
I was a mentee to some good people in the past and I am a mentor for some people today.
Being a mentee gave me someone to talk to, to share my thoughts (problems and achievements), get feedback and observations to work on myself.
Being a mentor lets me exercise my active listening, empathy and influencing skills, extend my network and knowledge and being proud and satisfied to help my mentees to have someone to talk to (see above). Saving Changes...
Damian PereraMonitoring & Evaluation Specialist| ChrysalisMellawagedara, Western Province, Sri Lanka
Thank you Kevin, Kiron, Sante & Dinah for sharing your thoughts & experiences.
I prefer situational mentoring. According to the situation, it's good to find a mentor though it's a challenge in certain situations to find a mentor, who understands and guide you. Saving Changes...
Keri ThomsonHillcrest, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa
Hi Damian,
I find mentoring intrinsically rewarding and derive pleasure in contributing to the growth of others. In terms of advancing one's career: it is indicative of good leadership and a host of other characteristics that may be valued by an organization. E.g., a mentor is usually viewed as extremely competent and respected in their discipline as well as being strong on the EQ front. Saving Changes...
Eric SimmsSenior Program ManagerBaltimore, Maryland, United States
Mentoring others helps me see anew things I have been familiar with for years. Mentoring makes me rethink my beliefs and techniques, since I have to explain them to someone else. Saving Changes...
This reminds me of a Zen tale "My Cup Overflows" that portrays the need to wake up to our assumptions, prejudices and past learning’s in order to make room within us for new information and understanding. Saving Changes...
