“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” - Benjamin Franklin
There is more to being a great mentor than talking about your work over coffee.
A great mentor knows that words alone do not create purpose driven action. A great mentor does more than
teach, they live life beside their mentee. In The Making of a Mentor, Alicia Britt Chole calls this: “Living shoulder
to shoulder.”
Jesus was the number one example of a great mentor. He invited his disciples to walk beside him to learn and to
put into action what they were learning so he could help correct and encourage them along the way.
Here are 10 steps to being a great mentor:
1. Pray.
Pray for one or two people that God would have you mentor. If you have been given the gift to do what you love
every day, God is calling you to pass along your knowledge and passion for your work.
2. Set session expectations.
Establish a mutual timeline and guidelines for mentoring. How long will this mentoring relationship last? What
is your expectation as a mentor for the relationship to continue (i.e. mentee completes homework before next
meeting). Make sure to establish personal boundaries as well.
3. Be prepared for your meeting.
Two days prior, I suggest sending your mentee a worksheet asking them specific questions (Make sure they
return it before you meet.) For example: What questions do you have for our time together? What would make
you feel successful about our session? What progress have you made on the assignments you have from our last
meeting? On the day of the meeting, set aside a few minutes to prayerfully reflect on the worksheet.
4. Open and close your mentoring session with clarifying questions.
Many times, the questions the mentee writes down or asks first is not the real question, issue or goal they are
trying to achieve. Be patient and slow to answer the first question they ask you.
5. Listen attentively.
The best mentors are those that allow the mentee to discover the truth through dialogue and reflection without
being told the answer. This builds confidence in the mentee.
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