News
Answering the Call for Mentorship
Monday, January 27th, 2020
Having trouble finding good volunteers? Is it challenging to keep the ones you have? A mentoring program may be the answer you’ve been looking for.
Mentoring programs offer an opportunity for your clergy, leaders and experienced volunteers to share their skills and experience with those who are less experienced, to put them on the fast track to success and explore their gifts for ministry.
At the same time, there are personal and professional benefits to being a mentor. As a teacher, guide and role model, you can provide powerful building blocks to give another person a big jumpstart to their future. Your organization can also save time in training when mentors help inexperienced people work independently and become productive in the organization.
Many mentors find they get more out of mentoring than they ever expected. Here are 8 qualities of a successful mentor:
- Excellent work-related skills and experience
- Makes a commitment of time and energy to the mentoring relationship
- Shares knowledge generously, not just about the work but also other skills such as professionalism, customer service and problem-solving
- Looks for the young person’s strengths, believes in their capabilities, helps them build on these, and trains them for long-term success
- Shares their own success stories—and failures
- Shows patience and empathy, and a realistic view of the learning process
- Consistently models best work practices
- Manages disappointments or setbacks without losing faith in the young person
Mentoring can be life-changing for both the mentor and the inexperienced. Consider a mentoring program in your church or faith-based organization today!