The word "mentor" was first used in Homer's epic poem "The Odyssey" when Odysseus entrusted the care of his kingdom to Mentor who served as a teacher and overseer to Odysseus' son.
This is where mentor was derived meaning "a trusted councelor or guide."

History and Definition of Mentorship

<ol><li>Use your time looking for the mentor you are comfortable with.</li><li>Share your goals and fears openly.</li><li>Do not expect your mentor to spoon-feed you.</li><li>Do not expect specific advice.</li><li>Share your struggles and failures.</li><li>Listen, research and apply your mentor's guidance.</li><li>Show that you value your mentor's support.</li><li>Do not abuse your relationship by expecting political support in the organization.</li></ol>

Succeed With a Mentor

A mentor..<ul><li>Takes a long-range view of your growth and development.</li><li>Helps you see the destination but does not give you the detailed map to get there.</li><li>Offers encouragement and cheerleading, but not "how to" advice.</li></ul>A mentor does not..<ul><li>Serve as a coach as explained above. </li><li>Function as an advocate of yours in the organizational environment such as your boss would; the relationship is more informal. </li><li>Tell you how to do things.</li><li>Support you on transactional, short-term problems.</li><li>Serve as a counselor or therapist. </li></ul>

A Mentor Does and Does not

A mentor is not someone who gives you direct answers, but someone who challenges you to know the right answer. And in life, you can't be spoon-fed all the time. The role of a mentor is to guide you and give you the wisdom in knowing the answer.

Why Seek Out a Mentor

<ul><li>Have the willingness to learn and be open to positive or negative feedback.</li><li>Do not hesitate to ask for advice and use this chance to practice being a good listener.</li><li>Let your mentor know what your goals are.</li><li>Discuss with your mentor how you can best measure the success and effectiveness of your working relationship together.</li><li>Always follow your appointments.</li><li>Keep track of your discussions with your mentor and follow up specifically on those steps when you meet.</li></ul>

The Mentee's Responsibilities

The terms mentoring and coaching are often mistakenly interchanged. Although they are similar, they are not the same when it comes to approach.<ul><li>Mentoring - long-term relationship focusing on the growth and development of the mentee with the mentor as the source of the wisdom, support, and knowledge.</li><li>Coaching - short-term relationship focusing on strengthening traits and eliminating behaviors that diminishes one's performance.</li></ul>

Mentoring and Coaching

Serving as a mentor brings many challenges and rewards, with the best mentors working to shape their mentees into other leaders, rather than just good followers. If done well, the long-term impact of mentoring can offer life- and career-changing benefits to both parties. The terms mentoring and coaching often get used interchangeably, which misleads the audience.

Why Seek Out a Mentor

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