Business leaders tend to have very busy schedules, but despite this, many of them take on mentoring responsibilities. If you’re wondering whether it’s a good idea for you to get involved in mentoring programmes, keep reading. Here are three reasons why it may be worth your while.
1. Give something back
One organisation that understands the benefits of mentoring is marketing and fundraising specialist Appco UK. Managing Director at the organisation Mike Blane is among those to have devoted time to these programmes. He got in touch with ORT UK, the UK arm of Jewish training and education charity World ORT, to register as a mentor in a scheme that provides work experience to sixth form students to help them make more informed decisions about their careers.
Appco welcomed college student Matthew Peters to the company for a placement spanning six months, during which he got to spend time with a range of staff members in areas including operations, procurement and events. Commenting on his motivation for getting involved in the project, Mr Blane said he was looking for a way to give something back.
Everyone needs support in order to succeed in work and devoting time and energy to helping those at an earlier stage of their career or education allows you to share your knowledge and experiences. As well as benefiting your mentee, this can give you added job satisfaction and increase your sense of self-worth.
2. Show what your company’s about
These programmes also provide you with a chance to show others what your company is all about. On a broad level, getting involved in mentoring initiatives sends a signal to people that your organisation has a strong sense of responsibility and wants to play its part in helping the wider community. It also offers potential future employees a chance to discover more about the sort of work you do and the opportunities available within your business.
Talking about Matthew’s experience at Appco Group, Mr Blane noted it showed him what it’s like to work in a variety of different roles in a busy, multinational company.
3. Improve your feedback skills
Giving constructive criticism in a professional setting can be difficult and many business leaders struggle to do this in a way that doesn’t come across as patronising or insulting. Taking on a mentee can help you to hone your skills in this area. You’ll get plenty of opportunities to practise, and because they are there to learn from you, the person you’re mentoring should be receptive to your feedback. In turn, this can make you a more effective manager and help you to get the most from your personnel.