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Women In Business
Mentoring Program |
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“Why should I become a Mentor?” 
This may be the question you may be asking yourself.
Most people agree that mentorees receive enormous benefits from mentors.
However, what do the Mentors get in return?
Below is a list adapted from the work of Dr. Linda Phillips-Jones co- founder of " The Mentoring Group", founded in the mid 80's to provide worldwide mentoring services.
If you're debating about playing this role, here are some of the most important reasons for investing your time to help a mentoree.
- You will learn! Old saying...."it's a bad day when you can't learn something".....
By serving as a mentor, you'll learn from your mentorees and possibly from other mentors. They'll have knowledge you don't have, maybe teach you a new job-specific skill, and help you enhance your people-development skills, which you can use with your own employees and even your family and friends. In the process, you'll also learn more about yourself.
- You'll review and validate what you know and what you've accomplished.
Teaching another helps you review and reframe all you've learned about that subject. You'll realize that you've accomplished much more than you thought.
- This is a chance to give back.
In the past, you may have received good mentoring from someone and never had a chance to show your gratitude to him or her directly. You now have an opportunity to reciprocate and "put something back into the pot."
- You'll be more likely to move into "Generativity" (vs "Stagnation"). Erik Erikson said you'll reach a critical decision point in your mid- to late-30s. You can give up (moving into a Stagnation phase), or you can thrive, proceeding to Generativity and happy 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond. You do this by realizing you've been through and mastered much, a new generation is coming behind you, and you have a lot to offer it. Being an effective mentor can actually catapult you into successful Regenerativity.
- You'll probably feel satisfied, proud, and other energizing emotions.
When you have a positive effect on your mentorees, expect several positive feelings of pride, satisfaction, happiness, contentment, and excitement along with the enjoyable physiological reactions that go with them.
- Mentoring could have future personal payoffs.
When mentorees are successful, they often reward their mentors. Even if this isn't your reason for helping, you could receive grateful thanks, notoriety, jobs, invitations, and other future opportunities to contribute and celebrate.
- You'll leave the world better than when you found it.
It's been said before, and it's still true. Taking the time to reach out to others, share your life's wisdom, and convey your respect for them is probably the least expensive and most powerful way to change the world, one life at a time.
Below are some interesting examples of Mentors and Mentorees throughout history…..
- Business people - Freddie Laker mentored Richard Branson
- Politicians - Aristotle mentored Alexander the Great
- Directors - Martin Scorsese mentored Oliver Stone at the New York University
- Actors - Mel Gibson mentored Heath Ledger
- Music - Johann Christian Bach mentored Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Athletes - Eddy Merckx (five-time Tour de France winner) mentored Lance Armstrong (seven-time Tour de France winner).
- Soccer - Bobby Charlton mentored David Beckham
- Movies - Obi-wan Kenobi mentored Anakin Skywalker and his son Luke Skywalker
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