Mentors are Approachable

Mentors are somewhat like best friends. You can call at middle of the night and be assured the call will be picked up.

Mentors are seen to be available, perceived to be approachable, someone who can be called at any time the mentee seeks help, support and advise.

From an organization perspective, mentors need not necessarily be senior managers, they can be at any rung of an organization heirarchy, they can even be outside the organization. Though, for advise on organization issues, it might be difficult to share organization specific information with an external mentor.

Are all leaders true mentors?
Not necessarily.

Traits associated with Mentors include; being approachable, qualities equivalent to a coach, who guides, coaxes, supports, repriminds, applauds, in required proportion and at the right time.

It is not necessary that every time the mentee approaches to weep on the mentor's shoulder, he or she gets to be cuddled; the mentor could well admonish and scold;

More on qualities of mentors in my coming posts.

Cheers

Mentors as Lighthouses

This is a new blog that I am starting, on leadership and how leaders can be effective mentors. My writings in this blog combined with my other blog 'Perspectives on Leadership' http://offshoreleader.blogspot.com/ will, I hope, cover issues and practices related to Mentors and mentorship and serve as a bouncing board for ideas and perspectives on how leaders can be effective mentors.

I will also touch upon the need for leaders themselves to have mentors who can guide an assist leaders to lead better. Somewhat like ancient lighthouses, or now GPS systems, that even the best of captains rely upon to guide their ships. Of course, knowledge of the seas, of routes and winds, of rocks and channels help; but a good captain knows that nothing compares to a beacon of light, sometimes well known and sometimes a pleasent surprise, that reaffirms and confirms that he is on the right route, in time, with his cargo safe and sound.

So will these writings touch upon these lighthouses of mentorship and their relevance for even the best and most experience leaders.