The Power of Mentoring
Last week I spoke at the national Catersource Conference in Orlando. It was my 19th year attending the conference and each year I think back about my relationship with the founder of Catersource, Mike Roman. He was a mentor to me and was the person that encouraged me to get up on stage and speak. He encouraged me and at the same time was willing to call me out when I was wrong. Having taken over his parent’s business, he shed light on my situation and much needed perspective that I didn’t always have. I always felt like he believed in me and sincerely wanted to help me on my path. I’m forever grateful for his mentorship and I can honestly say I would not be where I am today without it.
In addition to Mike, I’ve been fortunate to have a number of mentors throughout my life. People like Bob Carrothers, Dick Franklin and Tommy Spaulding have been instrumental in my development both personally and professionally. As someone who has sought out mentors, I was surprised to find that I’m in the minority. According to a study done by Olivet Nazarene University, 76% of people think mentors are important, yet only 37% of people have one. Like anything that provides benefit, we have to be intentional and put in some effort in order to see a positive impact. This week I want to take a moment to highlight why mentors are so powerful.
1) Mentors provide perspective. Often they have an unbiased view of the situation and can shed light on a variety of options and help you see your blind spots.
2) Mentors are full of wisdom. They have the ability to teach and share their experiences to help you navigate what comes your way.
3) Mentors are inspiring. They believe in you and can give you confidence to achieve more than what you think you are capable of.
Most people also think that mentoring is only for the benefit of the person being mentored. However, the power of mentoring goes beyond the impact on the mentee, it also extends to the mentor as well. In my time mentoring others, I’ve benefited in the following ways:
1) Mentors feel good about giving back. Helping others boosts my confidence and overall mood. It is also a way to promote future generations and generally is the right thing to do.
2) Mentors can learn from mentees. I’m often inspired by new ideas and energy that young leaders share. It keeps me relevant and on top of the latest trends.
3) Identify up and coming talent. Being a mentor is a great way to build relationships with the next generation of leaders.
Being at Catersource was a great reminder that we should be intentional about the role mentoring plays at all stages of our careers. I hope this week you take some time to think about the mentors that have impacted you and share some appreciation with them. Also think about how you will incorporate mentoring moving forward. Whether it’s time to find a mentor for the next stage in your career or time for you to find someone to mentor, there are benefits to your life on both sides.