Mentoring

Benjamin Disraeli, a former Prime Minister of England, said, "The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches but to reveal to him his own." Therefore, good leaders deliberately seek out and find other possible leaders. Great leaders not only find those potential leaders but also mentor them to be great leaders. A mentor teaches, demonstrates, allows a protege to try, and evaluates the attempt. The mentor typically is perceived to have great relevant knowledge, wisdom, or eperience. The protege is perceived to have less knowledge, wisdom, or experience.

People I have mentored in business have gone on to become supervisors, managers, vice presidents, business owners, founders and co-founders, and top sales people. Those I have mentored in academia have gone on to become professors, department heads, deans, assistant deans, MBA directors, vice presidents, and presidents. The people I have mentored in public life have gone on to become state representatives, state treasurers, and civic club leaders. Those I have mentored in the spiritual arenas have gone on to become Bible class teachers, ministers, deacons, elders, and ministry directors.

Mentoring relationships have an important influence in professional development. The war for talent in the business world is always active. Thus you need to be all that you can be. Abraham Maslow, an American psychologist, said it well: "If you deliberately plan on being less than you are capable of being, then I warn you that you'll be unhappy for the rest of your life." Find a mentor, or become one.