How can mentorship help you become a better supervisor?

Mentorship can significantly enhance someone's ability to become a better supervisor in various ways. Firstly, mentors provide valuable guidance and insights based on their experience, helping supervisors navigate challenges effectively. Secondly, they offer constructive feedback, enabling supervisors to identify their strengths and areas for improvement. Additionally, mentorship provides a safe space for supervisors to discuss concerns, share ideas, and learn from real-world examples, which fosters continuous learning and professional development. Mentors can also introduce supervisors to new perspectives, diverse approaches, and innovative strategies, broadening their managerial skill set.

Everyone can offer encouragement, knowledge and leadership to someone else. Everyone's successes and failures contribute to the development of their leadership skills. Whether it is a mail clerk to the CEO of a company everyone has something to contribute. Enrich your leadership by looking at all places in the workplace for mentoring and leadership skills. Incorporate all that you learn to develop your leadership skills.

As a supervisor at any level mentorship is key to engaging your employees and developing yourself for future opportunities. As you practice being a mentor you learn to help people through their own self-discovery and at the same time help yourself become a better mentee. Working both sides of the process provides the insight to get more out of your own mentoring relationships. As an example, I have learned that it is very important to see opportunities for yourself and others in work that happens every day. Our jobs our filled with opportunities to practice everyday, we only need to see them. Remember mentorship is always about the needs of the mentee!

Observation is a great way to learn and it offers real looks at a variety of skills in action. Being able to observe how your mentor handles difficult situations, demonstrates empathy and uses influence is a huge opportunity for skills transfer and development. Someone can be your mentor even where there isn’t a formal mentor relationship. If you recognize they possess traits that you would like to develop, it’s an opportunity to compliment them and ask if they would give you some quick pointers. Make a personal study guide and work out why different approaches work in different situations or with different personalities. Use the study guide to broaden your skill set and improve your performance as a supervisor.

Mentoring is a great privilege but also a tremendous responsibility. You can have an impact on people's careers and also affect the performance of the organization. Employees feel more accountable and productive when they know and believe the organization cares about them. Mentors are life-long friends who know you and are part of your success and journey. My mentors were people that I feel grateful for and will forever be connected to. Pass your knowledge to others. Teach and share your experiences. Connect with others on a deeper level. That's part of being a leader.

This is an under appreciated effect of good mentorship on both sides of the mentoring equation. Having made the transition from a military career to civilian, I learned the importance of mentors, who helped me expand my network or gave me opportunities.

Mentorship offers supervisors a unique opportunity to tap into the wisdom and experiences of seasoned professionals. Through regular interactions with a mentor, a supervisor can gain deeper insights into leadership challenges, learn effective management strategies, and receive constructive feedback. Mentors often share practical knowledge and real-world examples, helping supervisors navigate complex situations they may encounter. This collaborative learning environment allows supervisors to broaden their skill set, understand various leadership styles, and adapt their approach to different scenarios.