Amentor should also be open to learning from theirmentees, I’m60 and I try to learn something new every day
Max Fellows and Melissa Noakes of Elevate
“It’s a two-way street,“ adds Katie Pollitt, founder of EMMentoring. “You often sign up because you feel like you want to give back to the industry. But there’s also a lot to learn on a personal level. “Mentees will ask mentors questions about their experiences that they may not have ever thought about, such as what they would have done differently in their careers and what they’ve learnt along the way.”
opportunity to learn about new things in the industry and get different perspectives and reverse mentoring to name but a few. What we hear often is the sense of gratitude and fulfilment in helping someone.”
but most importantly she has supported me to meet goals I never thought I would achieve,” says Pickles. “Being a mentee has also given me opportunities I never would have experienced, and an industry friend for life.” Sowhat makes a good mentor? “As a mentor you need to be a practitioner, you need to be in the business, you need to understand what the mentee is looking for and how you can guide them. A good mentor does not give you all the answers, it’s not a set agenda,” explains David Preston, CEO of Realise and mentor on the Elevate mentoring scheme. “A mentor should also be open to learning from their mentees, I’m 60 and I try to learn something new every day.” “You’ve got to understand your mentee’s reasons for wanting a mentor, and if you think you can help, then commit and go all in together,” says Gavin Farley. “If you don’t think you can help, then say early and don’t waste anyone’s time.” The benefits for the mentees are clear to see. But what’s in it for the mentors? “So much!” says Melissa Noakes. “Increased confidence, leadership skills, development for themselves, the
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