The making of a mentor

Many university students who are in denial about how intense the transition from education to entering the ‘real world’ can be stubbornly roll their eyes at the idea of having a mentor.

‘What does a mentor even do?’, and ‘Why the need?’ are the questions which tend to crop up and prevent people from even exploring the idea. However, thoughts of what life after university will look like, especially since the pandemic hit, will have spurred many to re-think their mindset on mentoring. But what are its origins?

“What does a mentor even do?“ and “Why the need?”

To understand the meaning of mentoring, we need to delve into the history books and step back in time to Ancient Greece.

 It’s widely cited that the concept of ‘mentoring’ originates from the character ‘Mentor’ in the renowned epic poem ‘The Odyssey’ by Homer, which dates back almost 3000 years. In summary, during the 10-year Trojan War (the one memorably featuring a giant wooden horse), Odysseus, the King of Ithica, left both his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus to lead his army. Telemachus was placed under the watchful eye and care of a guardian called Mentor, who’s job was to guide him.

In the poem, Odysseus faces a series of challenges that prevents his return home for what goes on to be another 10 years. Pressure is placed on Penelope to marry again, denying Telemachus his birthright to be the next king. Mentor does not live up to the Odysseus’s expectations, and his son turns out insecure and unconfident.

Now, this is where it all gets interesting. According to the poem, the Gods like to interfere in the lives of mortals: the Goddess Athena wants to see Odysseus back in his rightful place and appears to Telemachus by shape-shifting into a “wise” version of the original Mentor to offer him guidance. With his confidence boosted, he kills all of his mother’s suitors and establishes both his authority and claim and to the throne.

With this history lesson over, we can see the simple yet effective role played by the ‘Mentor’, involving a relationship where one invests time, energy and personal know-how (let’s call it wisdom) in assisting the growth and development of someone less experienced. So, what are the benefits of having a mentor? 

We should all seek to improve and develop our skills and continue to learn new things whilst challenging ourselves on a daily basis because, frankly, life is too short not to. However, sometimes, in order to do these things, we have to turn to someone who has the knowledge and experience to help guide us through the pitfalls and pressures of the world of work.

“sometimes, in order to do these things, we have to turn to someone who has the knowledge and experience to help guide us…”

Self-development takes time and determination, but life can get in the way of our efforts. Therefore, having someone who can advise and guide you, whilst encouraging you to grow both personally and professionally, is like being handed a one-way ticket to success. Accepting that a mentor can do all of this is the first step to embracing post-university life.

It’s proven that mentoring has the power to accelerate career progression and self-development, to self-confidence, and have an overall positive effect on mentees. However, if anyone still has doubts, here are three reasons why mentoring can help you to succeed.

“Self-development takes time and determination, but life can get in the way of our efforts.”

Sometimes it’s who you know, not what you know

You can gain so much insight from someone’s experiences, as opposed to what you can get from text books, and this is exactly what mentoring delivers. A mentor’s experience and knowledge of their industry also often leads to networking opportunities, introductions and recommendations. Often, it’s a case of who you know and then applying it to what you know!

Statistics show you’re more likely to succeed with a mentor

Your chances of success can be amplified by having the right mentor: according to entrepreneur.com, 80% of CEO’s said they received some form of mentorship. The same article cites another research study in which 93% of start-ups said that mentorship is instrumental to success. If both parties put plenty of effort into the relationship, mentoring is almost guaranteed to be a stepping stone towards success.

Reassurance

Having someone who can either relate to you, or understand the situation you’re in is a valuable tool when it comes to steering you in the right direction. It gives a sense of clarity and calm amidst the storm of uncertainty that faces many graduates as they begin their careers. Having someone to share any concerns with, run ideas past, and be challenged by, is a vital element of anyone’s early career development.

Reassurance goes hand-in-hand with self-confidence, and with self-confidence comes a positive approach to shaping your future. Even the most outwardly self-confident of individuals may actually need some form of reassurance, and this is where mentoring can really help.F

For most graduates, acquiring a mentor will do nothing but add to the building blocks of post-university success, so what does anyone have to lose by being mentored? Remember, though, the focus must not just be on what the mentor brings to the table – it’s also about what attitudes and attributes make for makes someone a good mentee.