Who mentors who?

…and how does someone become qualified to mentor?  

Well the short answer is that no one qualifies to become a mentor.  There is no one certification process or “national” standard.  Finding a mentor that is a good fit, knowledgeable and resourceful, but also has the capacity and desire to mentor is something like finding a four-leaf clover.  And it is not just the mentee who lucks out.  When a mentoring relationship works as it should both parties stand to benefit.  Therefore, the relationship can be viewed as a partnership where both parties show up, share ideas, and remain open to seeing things from various angles or perspectives.

It is best that mentees who are looking to find a mentor remain open and receptive when pursuing a mentoring partnership because mentors come in all different shapes, sizes, colors (literally), and ages.  Individuals who are open to finding help where it is available and willing to receive it from someone that is delighted to answer the call will have an easier time accepting matches with unexpected and unlikely mentors.  Coupled with the realization that there are no qualifiers for mentors comes the more important realization that age is most definitely not a qualification for being a mentor.  

A mentor does not need to be older than the person they are mentoring.  Many opportunities will be missed if those in need of mentoring only envision an old, wise, extremely successful or well-to-do type as the best option for a mentor.  The rare individuals that most see as ideal mentors are often not available or all that accessible.  Fellow blogger, Donny Walford has some great tips for sizing up a good mentor.  She advises that individuals seeking a mentor should look out for these five things:  1) The advice they give, 2) Their attitude toward you, 3) An “open-door” policy, 4) Asking insightful questions [of the mentee], and 5) Changing the context [informal mentoring versus formal mentoring].  

That last one is a really important point.  No one should believe that they need to work for a Fortune 500 company or already be working in a field they aspire to work in or know more about a given field to begin a mentoring partnership.  Read Donny’s full article on mentoring here.  Then get ready to find a mentor or an entire board of mentors as some would suggest.