The Impact of Mentoring
“For it is in giving that we receive” (St. Francis of Assisi).
As a busy professional, it’s sometimes hard to find ways to give back that don’t feel like an overwhelming commitment of time or income. Entering into a mentoring relationship is an accessible way to provide volunteer support without overcommitting or adding one more task that proves to be an unsustainable draw on resources.
Types of Mentoring
There are several different types of mentoring to consider, including traditional mentoring (mentoring someone, likely much younger, on topics related to both personal and professional concerns), professional-to-professional (mentoring peers early in their career to help them grow in their chosen field), and peer mentoring (two people at roughly the same professional level mentoring each other, to offer support and encouragement). I’ve participated in all three types and not only enjoyed it but gained a huge amount of knowledge about myself in the process.
Traditional Mentoring
This type of mentoring may be what comes to mind when you think of mentoring: an opportunity to guide and counsel a younger person, sometimes even starting in middle or high school. There are many formalized mentoring programs, including Big Brothers Big Sisters; I participate in a college-level mentorship program through iMentor. I’m in year three of a four-year commitment to my mentee, a first-generation college student pursuing her bachelor’s in fine arts.
Often, traditional mentoring requires a longer-term commitment; this approach allows the mentor to really see their mentee grow and change. Words cannot express how proud I am of my mentee, now a junior in college, when I reflect on our first meeting, the summer after her senior year of high school.
In this mentoring relationship, we’ve discussed all kinds of topics–healthy eating, interacting with new roommates, ensuring safety on a date with someone she met online, study strategies, talking to professors, resume review, and internship applications.
Professional Mentoring
Professional mentoring may be especially appealing to women in business, as it provides an opportunity to support someone in a related field. I’ve had the opportunity to mentor a number of different early-career professionals through the National Scholarship Providers Association. Professional associations, like NSPA or the Association of Fundraising Professionals, local leadership organizations, or other business organizations are a great place to look for these types of mentoring programs.
In this mentoring relationship, I’ve talked my mentees through setting boundaries at work, advocating for themselves to their supervisors, taking on new roles, and making professional connections. Typically, this type of mentoring focuses solely on the professional side of things and does not venture into advice related to personal relationships or skills.
Peer-to-Peer Mentoring
If you’re early in your career or making a career change, you may not feel quite up to being a formal mentor. Peer-to-peer mentor programs are a great way to build this skill while also receiving mentoring yourself!
Early in my first role in my current field, I participated in a peer mentoring program through the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network. Many years later, my peer mentee became a trusted colleague. It was wonderful to be able to work with someone and see the growth we’d both accomplished in the time in between.
Tips for Being a Successful Mentor
Consider participating in a mentoring program through an organization, such as a professional association or nonprofit organization. These formalized programs offer support in matching you with a best-fit mentee and guidance in starting, growing, and concluding your relationship.
Be realistic (mentors still have lives!). Don’t promise your mentee more than you feel you can realistically offer. If one meeting a month is possible but not two or three, share that time constraint up front. If you can only take calls or meetings during certain hours (business hours or evenings, for example) share that information, too.
Set boundaries. Both mentor and mentee should share their preferred method of communication and how (and when!) they’re comfortable being contacted. Both parties should abide by these preferences. If issues seem too personal or outside the purpose of the relationship, bring the focus back to appropriate topics.
The Impact of Being a Mentor
The impact of being a mentor truly goes both ways. Over the past 10 years, I’ve had the opportunity to engage in a wide variety of mentoring relationships and have seen the impact it’s had on my professional skills and abilities. Through my participation in a variety of mentoring programs, I’ve gained:
Clarity around my own personal and professional boundaries.
Practice communicating, networking, and facilitating meetings.
An opportunity to hear different perspectives.
Confidence in sharing professional tips and expertise.
Mentoring is an incredible opportunity for a two-way relationship and growth, and I’ve enjoyed getting to see my mentees grow and have followed many of their career paths over the years. There are many different types and opportunities for engagement at all levels, regardless of professional or personal commitments. Look for mentorship opportunities on Mentor.org, your professional association, your local Chamber of Commerce, or other professional organizations and nonprofits in your community!
Sarah Battersby has a Bachelor's in English and a Master's in Social Work and has spent most of her career working with students and student-serving organizations. She is the co-founder of a consulting firm that serves donors and philanthropic organizations seeking to create and manage impactful scholarship programs. She loves reading, baking, being a mentor, and discovering new things with her daughter. She lives in North Carolina with her family.