Become the mentor…

Mentorship is an incredible tool. It allows for growth and collaboration, professional guidance, and exposure to new ideas. Just as surely as we are looking to others for inspiration, someone is looking to us. What does it mean to be a mentor, and more importantly what can we do to effectively inspire and lead others?

Ask questions. Questions allow people to think critically about situations and come up with their own solutions, rather than just blindly following directions handed to them. Also, questions encourage your mentee to dig deeper into problems and challenge assumptions they may be making.

Make introductions. Introducing people that can help each other professionally or simply offer a shoulder to lean on helps everyone achieve more!

Tell stories. Share your experiences, both successes and failures. This vulnerability builds rapport and allows your listener to see that they are not alone in their struggles.

Any gesture, big or small that shows you genuinely care and want to help means you are a great mentor. Make it a priority to reach out and be available to anyone that could benefit from your experience. We especially encourage you to lift up under represented groups, such as the female, LGBTQIA and BIPOC members of our community. Let's root for each other, and watch each other grow!