The Weekend Chatroom — A chat with my Mentor
I was watching a random episode of KBC (Kaun Banega Crorepathi) where a contestant was put forth with a question. The contestant did not have a clue about the answer but still he did not want to give up. So he adopted a different strategy. Since he did not know the correct answer, he went on to eliminate all the wrong ones. With valid justification, he was able to eliminate the 3 wrong answers and was finally left out with one option. He went for it and got the answer correct.
This is exactly how I see the role of a mentor. A mentor is not someone who spoon feeds you with what needs to be done next. When you are not aware of what needs to be done, they come in as a blessing to eliminate all the roadblocks and eventually pave the way for you to succeed. A mentor doesn’t typically get introduced to you as a mentor. They first get acquainted, then they analyse /understand you and finally help you move in the right direction by sharing their knowledge and experience. That’s exactly how I got introduced to Mr. Ramesh Kumar.
In a world where everyone is running a rat race, I have seen people who want to outsmart the others by pulling them down. People who have been assigned the role of a ‘Mentor’ often tend to misunderstand it and start bossing people around. In such a situation, it is difficult to find a selfless person who passionately mentors people and enjoys when they reach great heights.
Being a mentor of mine, I have always wanted to ask a few questions to Ramesh and here I am.
1. How would you like to be known in the social circle?
To be frank, I have never thought about how the social circle or society thinks of me. The day, I start to think of how they would like to see me, I may start to lose my real characteristics. Yes, we are bound to the social norms. I live within it. However, I try to be true to myself rather than worry on what others think of me. If I am , then I am true to all others.
2. I have seen you volunteering to Mentor people. Why are you so much passionate about Mentoring?
After finishing my collage, without proper guidance, I struggled a lot to land a job. Because, I never knew what I want, so I ended up doing odd jobs. After a couple of years, a friend of mine turned to be a guardian angel and I owe him a lot for what I am being now.
In an office environment too, I struggled a lot and made many mistakes which didn't help me with the progress I aimed.
In simple, my failures have been my experience and wisdom.
I understood like me there are a lot of people struggling out there and looking for a light house. So, it was time for me to give back to the people who need assistance.
When mentees succeed and grow, it gave me great joy and pleasure. That feeling is something I may not be able to express.
3. How important are Mentors in ones life?
If you’re lucky, you’ve had at least one great mentor in your life.
Mentors are those generous people who are open to sharing their knowledge, wisdom, experience, insight and offering their counsel. They are great listeners who understand your challenges and offer different strategies and ideas to not only help you overcome obstacles but excel at them. Mentors will often see something in you that you may not see yourself. Mentors are special person who would have inspired and encouraged you to be the best version of yourself, take risks and not be afraid to chase success.
4. How should one choose a mentor?
“Successful mentoring relationships happen when the mentor and mentee are the right match,” Driscoll said.
“Reach out to someone you think you are comfortable with, who can be a neutral sounding board, and [who] will also provide great advice.”
I recommend the mentees to use the below question as the guidance while selecting the mentor
Address my specific area of interest?
Be both a role model and provide guidance related to dilemmas I may encounter?
Work with me to establish and follow through on identified goals? Be collaborative?
Be respectful of me and my opinions, even during difficult conversations?
Provide feedback and guidance, without being critical? Can communicate clearly?
5. How different is the role of a Mentor and a Coach?
Mentors are successful people who share their hard-won wisdom to provide insight and guidance as an mentee encounters challenges along their journey. Mentors may not have expertise in the mentee’s field, but they understand how to navigate through the challenges in general. A mentor helps mentees consider opportunities for career growth, gain confidence and improve interpersonal skills.
Coaches, on the other hand, often have expertise in the same field as the people they’re helping. They’re usually trained and certified as coaches, possessing strong process management skills.
I am sure, you guys would have enjoyed knowing about Mentorship and its significance. If you have any comments, feel free to share them in the comments section.
