How Engaging A Mentor Helps You To Achieve your Goals.

Coach. Mentor. Consultant. Trainer. Counsellor.

What is the difference between those intervention? It can be something of a minefield trying to work it out for yourself. The difference between them is what intervention specialists choose to call themselves and the service that they provide, and what outcome the client is actually looking for.

Because of regulation and skill sets, people can call themselves whatever they wish. To help, I tell my clients:

A Coach – Is outcome focused, helping an individual or group to find the answers, and some will have gone through specific training. An unregulated profession so has no minimum acceptable standard of ongoing CPD or training so do your homework.

A Mentor – Is a trusted guide who has the knowledge and experience that the client is looking for to guide them. Works with an individual. Has walked the walk and this relationship is a commitment agreement.

A Consultant – Is typically a person that has the answers and is paid to solve a specific problem.

A Trainer – Upskills an individual or a group within a specific discipline.

A Counsellor – Is an individual who works with a client on historic issues that are causing the client issues today. They have to be qualified in their specialism.

As a coach, I have had several mentors along my journeys. – some formal and others informal. Maybe you’ve been struggling a bit in life, and a friend, family member, colleague or your manager has suggested that you try out a mentor. You might be hesitant, wondering why a mentor is even important. But mentorship is important for several of the following reasons.

Mentors Provide Knowledge.

No matter who you are or what field you are in, you don’t know everything there is to know. Even if your mentor is as qualified as you are, they may have knowledge that differs from yours which could help you achieve your goals. Having a mentor can also help shorten the growth curve when you take on a new project or set that ambitious goal.

Mentors Can See Things You Can’t.

One of the most difficult things for you as an individual is being able to clearly see yourself or your journey. A mentor can help with this since they can provide feedback about things you are doing from the outside looking in. This can give you a valuable leap ahead when competing for a competitive position or another objective that depends on someone else’s decision to achieve it.

Mentors Offer Encouragement.

Beyond just providing an outside perspective and giving you advice on decisions, mentors can also offer you daily encouragement. The reality is that a mentor is worth their weight in precious stones. A good mentor will know you so well that they will know how to offer you the exact kind of encouragement that will get you going when you are stuck in a rut. This encouragement can help you to better stay the course for the achievement of your goal.

Mentors Introduce You To A Network.

One of the other things that makes a mentor great is that they usually have a network of people behind them who are also available to you. This can be an invaluable resource for you. They may introduce you to new people who can help you along your journey. They may know people who can advise you in difficult situations. Either way, a mentor will introduce you to people who will be invaluable to your journey!

So. To summarise. If you find yourself struggling, it may be important that you find someone to mentor you.

You probably already know the person that can mentor you if they are willing.
A mentor is a valuable person who can provide you with knowledge and help you to see things that you wouldn’t normally be able to.

A mentor can offer you encouragement as well as introduce you to other new people who can be a great addition to your life.

Who is your mentor or who can be your mentor?

Photo – Youssef-Naddam