Imagine that you and several others have been shipwrecked on an island. Only one person in your group can speak the same language as the locals. Like the island spokesperson, a mentor is a compassionate person who influences your fate. A mentor is someone with a great deal of experience and influence in a chosen field who helps and guides your – the protege's – professional or career development. A mentor can, but does not have to, work for the same organization that employs you.
An effective mentor possesses many qualities that allow him to help you develop professionally. If a mentor works for the same firm as you, he should possess company-specific knowledge. An effective mentor is also: experienced, dedicated, influential, credible, insistent, verbally adept, good at listening, objective, and encouraging.
In possession of company-specific knowledge: If a mentor works for the same organization as you, he should know how the organization functions, such as how to get things done and how to advance through the ranks. To be effective, your mentor must also be willing to share his company-specific knowledge.
Experienced: An effective mentor is experienced and is willing to share his skills and expertise. Your mentor's skills and expertise should match your professional development needs and career goals.
Dedicated: A mentor helps you achieve your learning goals. He should participate fully in the mentoring relationship. To show dedication, he must set clear expectations, define roles, determine meeting logistics, and decide how to deal with problems when they arise.
Influential: A mentor should know people throughout the industry – and if applicable, throughout the organization – and be able to introduce you to the ones who can help you reach your learning goals.
Credible: A mentor should be credible within the profession, and if applicable, the organization. His colleagues should respect him, his work, and his opinions.
Insistent: A mentor should challenge you to reach beyond what is familiar and comfortable so you can grow from new experiences.
Encouraging: A mentor should provide you with positive encouragement so that you'll be more willing to push yourself beyond your normal boundaries and work through the low spots in your efforts. Additionally, he should encourage you to expand upon your strengths.
Objective: Your mentor is your champion; he wants you to succeed. To effectively assess your strengths and weaknesses, he needs to remain objective and not let feelings or prejudices get in the way. It's OK for your mentor to acknowledge your weaknesses, but he should not let bias be a factor.
Verbally Adept: A mentor should be able to communicate well verbally. His answers and feedback should be clear and concise, and he should be able to give you succinct, pertinent instructions and examples.
Good at listening: A mentor should listen to what you are telling him about your needs and concerns. That way, the guidance he offers will be relevant to you.
It's difficult to chart the best course for your professional development and learning needs. A mentor can reduce some of that difficulty and offer you valuable guidance.