Some lucky business leaders know that the key to getting ahead is having someone you can bounce ideas off, someone who will hold you accountable to your decisions and someone you can discuss your business challenges with in confidence. This person is a mentor.
While many often talk about the great personal, and professional, success that stems from having a mentor, fewer discuss the significant value of what it means to be one.
At The Executive Connection, we provide mentoring to CEOs to help them maintain a competitive edge and challenge their thinking. I spoke to some of our mentors to understand why being a mentor is just as important as having one.
Joseph Scarf, business coach and mentor, New South Wales
“As a former leader, it’s in my nature to always be curious and passionate about business. Mentoring is a great way to keep me in touch and engaged in business, while also satisfying the desire to help others develop.
There are new challenges to face in every session and this keeps me thinking and inquisitive about the changing business environment; enabling me to continue my own self-development as a business professional.
While becoming a mentor requires a mind-shift and a sense of ‘letting go’, it’s an ideal addition to a successful career for those who want to step back, but still help others.”
Harvey Martin, business coach and mentor, Victoria
“In my 20 years of mentoring, I’ve found that the satisfaction of helping someone else to improve how they work never gets old; I get as much out of it as I put in.
One of my personal achievements has been learning to be a better listener in order to ask the most valuable questions for my mentee; aiding my own skillset in the process. It also keeps me on my toes and keeps me current.
When I was a business leader I never had a mentor, and that’s part of the reason I’m so passionate about being one myself; I wish I had that when I was a CEO.”
Tim Hantke, business coach and mentor, Western Australia
“I was fortunate to be mentored by Snap Printing founder, Paddy Thompson. From him I learnt that developing a wide range of relationships with people that have different perspectives on business was essential to my development as a leader.
The same thing still rings true today. Mentoring via those relationships allows me to stay stimulated, connected, and challenged.
I’ve been very privileged to be invited into the life of my mentees; to work with them cooperatively on growing them both personally and professionally.”
Many get more out of being a mentor than what they put in. If you’re looking for a rewarding and satisfying extension of an already successful corporate career, becoming a mentor could be a good move for you.
Stephanie Christopher is Chief Executive Officer of The Executive Connection, which has more than 20,000 members globally and 1,200 members in Australia and New Zealand. For more information on The Executive Connection, or advice on becoming a mentor, contact Georgie Duckworth, Manager, Strategic Alliances, The Executive Connection on georgie.duckworth@tec.com.au
