A new year reminds us that new beginnings are always possible. I’m currently enjoying expanding mentoring relationships. A beautiful aspect of mentoring is the bi-directional flow of the relationship – it is most effective when there is give and take. One of the rewarding aspects of mentoring is fellowship. Mentoring relationships are embarked upon for several reasons:
- Entering a career
- A recent college graduate wants to use her degree differently now that she has a few months of experience under her belt. Learning and development is an ongoing process – but at the beginning of our careers some of the skills we need require large development. My discussions with her center around building skills to attract employer interest. Her fresh perspective and curiosity rejuvenate me.
- Career change
- A friend of mine has experienced major life changes in the past year. Her needs have changed along with her interests. She has deep, rich experiences which will contribute to organizations – her quest is to focus those opportunities to find fulfillment. We are inventorying skills and satisfiers to help define a new course. This introspective journey requires that I’m also introspective and it is helping me focus my professional efforts too.
- Career growth
- I know a young professional who needs help to leverage opportunities and increase her expertise. Our topics are focused on positioning, strategy, forward planning and perspective taking. One benefit of this relationship is to stay connected to the joy of meaningful work on a daily basis.
- Refinement
- Maintaining relationships with trusted colleagues has always kept my skills sharp and my thinking relevant. We’ve heard, “Absolute power corrupts” and I have come to believe that the corruption is rarely malicious but exists because we have so few opportunities for refinement. Without constant, small adjustments we could find ourselves off course. I have three trusted advisors that have counseled through the years – and in return, I share my thoughts with them.