Most of us will have heard the term at some point or another, but do you know what mentoring actually means? We rather like this definition from Eric Parsloe, as it encapsualtes our philosophy here at We Are Tabono!:
Mentoring is to support and encourage people to manage their own learning in order that they may maximise their potential, develop their skills, improve their performance and become the person they want to be.
Eric Parsloe, The Oxford School of Coaching and Mentoring
Working with a mentor, can be hugely beneficial, and we’ll be talking more about why, and how, in future blogs. Being a mentor can also be hugely rewarding, and over the course of my career so far, I’ve been lucky enough to be both!
In the context of Tabono, Chloe and I are lucky to have the CEO of Right Stone Consulting, Mike Bourton, as our mentor. We learn a huge amount from his skills and experience, but also by questioning and challenging us, he supports us to take our business to the next level.
What does mentoring involve?
A mentoring arrangement is usually a long-term one, and involves the following elements:
- the development of the relationship between the mentor and the mentee, rather than on specific tasks
- a focus on the future
- an emphasis on learning and development
- the sharing of knowledge from a more experienced person to another
- the building of confidence and support, so that the mentee can take control of their own development and learning
So tell us – have you ever had a mentor? If so, what benefits did you gain from the relationship? Or is it something you would consider to help take your business to the next level? Let us know your thoughts on this important topic in the comments.
And don’t forget – we’re talking about coaching and mentoring all this month, so check back and read our next blog soon!
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