I was having a conversation with a young person recently, who is about to graduate from being a teenager and enter the twenty-something era. It was spontaneous, yet so insightful. I left the conversation re-inspired about the younger generation due to the maturity, mindset and attitude of this young person. In fact, I was so inspired that I wanted to share it with you readers.
I wonder if you are a professional who goes out of their way to support new and less experienced
members of the team? When I used to work for local authority as a consultant, and a new colleague was recruited they were often paired up with a more experienced one. If I said to one of the team that ‘Joe Bloggs’ was under my wing, everyone would know exactly what that statement indicated. I was responsible for supporting Joe Bloggs to develop the necessary skills and knowledge to upskill to undertake the role. They would accompany us on visits, go through a debrief so we could explain why we said what we did and why we decided to follow a particular course of action. I was the person they could ask questions and know they would get feedback, support and the necessary information. However, not all experienced consultants had new staff under their wing, because not all of them wanted to. More importantly, not all team members had the right attitude to support and help develop new colleagues. On reflection, I would say that it definitely required a caring nature to give back in this way.
It is often common to find more mature adults in both their professional and personal lives that are willing to mentor, advise and support others. Yet, this young person I was in the conversation with, displayed many of these qualities. He shared a few stories of a couple of people just a few years older than him, who had taught him, spoke the truth, challenged and also showed him the way. And also the difference it made, which included being more confident and having a direction for his career journey. It was remarkable to listen to, as he was now intentionally supporting others the same way he had been supported.
You see, whether labelled as mentoring or not, this is what is happening. Someone more experienced and knowledgeable sharing that with someone else willing and wanting to listen and learn. Mentoring relationships can be formal and established or very informal, and whilst we often focus on the difference it makes for the mentee, there is substantial impact for the one mentoring too. They get personal satisfaction from imparting wisdom and insights based on their area of expertise and knowledge. They often learn from the mentee as well as develop their communication and interpersonal skills.
As you look over the year I wonder how many people you have informally mentored, supported and
helped along their life’s path. There are probably more than you realise, as for many of us there is incredible joy in giving back. It’s like sowing seeds into someone else’s growth journey and whether you see that little seed bud and develop or not, in time, there will absolutely be growth. As we start to prepare and plan for 2025, I wonder if we could consider proactively looking for others we can give back to and support, whether through a one off conversation, having regular time for them or in other ways. Remember you are one of a kind, there is no one quite like you, and therefore there is value in the unique perspective you can offer to others. Have a great week.
Francesca McDowall, November 2024