The Impact of Mentoring

I did a Google search to find a clean definition of mentoring which stated that “mentoring is a reciprocal and collaborative at-will relationship that most often occurs between a senior and junior employee for the purpose of the mentee’s growth, learning and career development”. I’ve been the beneficiary of both receiving mentoring and mentoring others. This should not only apply to employees but also to nearly anyone as what we can share with others can be so beneficial and impactful. I say this, after a younger friend of mine shared he often referred to me as a guidepost before moving forward with an endeavor, using my feedback to better fine tune his own approach. I was stunned, as I was mentoring without knowing it.

People might have a belief that mentoring is a formal arrangement with schedules and curriculum involved. While this format can be true, I’d imagine that less formal mentoring or situation mentoring is likely a huge piece of the mentoring pie chart in terms of engagement. There’s a huge value in sharing skills, experience and an objective viewpoint with those eager to learn and grow. We might be led to imagine that the mentee is the primary beneficiary of sharing when in fact both the mentee and the mentor both benefit from this mutual sharing. The mentee learns skill, experience and progresses ahead as does the mentor learn how to sharpen their skills as and enjoys witnessing the impact of their mutual sharing.

Why not take some time and see where you could get plugged in and become either a formal or informal mentor? There are scores of opportunities to do so even starting with your family, neighbors or community including local schools. For instance, Victoria is a mentor to a student at Eau Gallie High School through the Take Stock in Children Program via Brevard County Schools. She enjoys the student’s take on the world, and seeing into the challenges prevalent today, and enjoys presenting ideas and past experiences to create thought process and discussion to stay focused and achieve the student’s goals.

The collective sense of community is enhanced by transferring experience from one to another. As quoted by John Wooden: A good coach can change a game. A great coach can change a life. How you coach them is how they are going to play. I’ve heard a great many stories from families we’ve been fortunate to serve, of huge success after facing many speed bumps and dead ends. More times than not, the achiever had a driving force, a believer or mentor as a constant in their life. Whether it was getting a doctorate degree, traveling the world, diving to new depths to make marine discoveries, or completing a triathlon. I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

The feel good in mentoring is moving many forward.

That said, I must thank you for your referrals and keeping us moving forward. It is very appreciated!

My Very Best,

Steven T. Wilmarth, CEP^®, WMS℠

Senior Vice President, Investments

Managing Director

Wealth Management Specialist℠