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Why You Should Have a Mentor

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Imagine driving down a road that you’re very familiar with. You drive back and forth on that road daily. Yes, you can do it — you can drive. You can get to your destination safely. But picture yourself driving the same road at night, in the darkness, without any headlights. Hmmmm. What now? Do you think you’ll make it? Is there a shortcut you could take? Suddenly, someone appears from within the darkness, fixes your headlights, and shows you a better way to get to your destination. You’ve just found yourself a mentor.

A mentor is a person with specialized knowledge whom you can enlist to educate and motivate you, either in your personal life, your career, or both. Mentors guide less-experienced people through the learning process by establishing trust and modeling positive behaviors. Generally, mentors don’t receive payment for that service. Many choose to help others because they understand the value of their wisdom and knowledge and they wish to pass it on. Others enjoy the challenge of helping people achieve their goals.

Still not sure? Check out these 10 things mentors provide, all of which can help you to meet your personal or business goals: 

  1. Increased knowledge
  2. Constructive criticism
  3. Personal growth
  4. Words of encouragement
  5. Firm boundaries
  6. Unbiased opinions
  7. Access to trusted allies
  8. Help with goal setting
  9. New perspectives
  10. Networking connections

It’s okay to have multiple mentors to help you with different aspects of your professional and personal development, but you need to choose your mentors carefully. Here are some of the characteristics you should consider looking for in a mentor:

  • Good listener
  • Flexible
  • Values diverse perspectives
  • Knowledgeable
  • Nonjudgmental
  • Able to give constructive feedback
  • Honest and candid
  • Able to network and find resources
  • Successful in career
  • Willing to devote time to helping others develop
  • Eager to learn

Here at Eastern Florida State College, there are many opportunities to find a mentor through clubs, resources (like the Male Minority Initiative), and faculty and staff. All you need to do to is communicate and show initiative. No one can be forcibly mentored; that desire comes from within, so if you’re feeling it, reach out to an advisor, professor, or other trusted professional! It’ll probably result in a conversation along the lines of this one:

  • Mentee: I think I’ve got a vision for my career plan. May I share it with you?
  • Mentor: Absolutely!
  • Mentee: Here’s what I came up with after setting some goals and doing some research.
  • Mentor: Wow, I’m impressed with your effort and attention to detail. May I share a few things with you?
  • Mentee: Please do.
  • Mentor: Here are some of the challenges I had when I was at this point. And this is what I had to do to overcome them.
  • Mentee: Oh wow, I didn’t think about that possibility. Now I can keep an eye on it. Thank you so much.
  • Mentor: Of course, and I have a good contact that can help you out with your plan. I’ll get the two of you in touch so you can expand your network.
  • Mentee: That sounds great, thanks! I appreciate your mentorship.
  • Mentor: That’s what I’m here for. Please reach out any time!

The road to success is mapped out for you to navigate, but you should never go it alone. Be prepared, use your tools, and find your mentors. Some day, you might pay it forward by becoming a mentor yourself. As the Dalai Lama once said, “Share your knowledge. It is the way to achieve immortality.”

Sal Shimy
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