If you’ve ever had a co-worker or colleague consistently go the extra mile to help you achieve success, then you have probably been mentored. But have you ever thought about the benefits of being a mentor to someone else?

When we mentor, we are a career coach and advocate. We give advice, teach others about our field, and, at times, are a friend and a sounding board. Here are a few reasons to reach out and mentor someone:

• You’ll be fulfilled knowing you’ve helped someone prosper.
• Mentoring develops your own leadership skills of recognizing and nurturing abilities.
• You may learn new information, technology, or gain insight from protégés, who often are new to the organization and have fresh perspectives to share.
• You will be seen as a “go to” person.

How do you get started?
Be a mentor to everyone! This doesn’t mean taking everybody under your wing. Just make one of your goals promoting everyone’s success . Be a good role model of your organization’s values.

Support your co-workers on projects or by giving positive feedback, and suggesting resources.

Be available for questions and keep confidentiality.

Not only are mentoring, teamwork and altruistic behavior great for your organization’s bottom line but you‘ll also learn more while developing your pool of resources and a professional network. You might even find one of these interactions evolves into a mentoring relationship that satisfies and rewards both you and your protégé in the long term. It is amazing how much you get when you give!
(From Lakeesha Flowers, HR Specialist)