Many successful digital entrepreneurs in Jersey reference mentoring as part of their journey and will have typically been connected with different mentors at different stages of their career.
Most people would assume that mentees are the only ones who gain value from mentorship, but there are a wealth of benefits that can enrich both a mentor’s professional and personal life.
Here are just five of the benefits of being a digital mentor:
1. Improved communication skills
The first step after being connected with your mentee is to instantly build a rapport by actively listening, asking the right questions, and providing constructive feedback. Practicing and honing these skills will positively impact how you communicate with staff/colleagues, clients, and stakeholders. We live in a fast-paced world, so you may not necessarily get the opportunity to step back and really think about how effectively you communicate on a day-to-day basis.
2. Strengthened leadership and management skills
Being a mentor can be a powerful way for any business owner, leader, or entrepreneur to boost their leadership skills. Supporting your mentee to make effective decisions and take actions are important principles in leadership and as a mentor, you have the ability to practice both. When leading and helping your mentee, you’ll be required to be adaptable, take initiative, and problem solve, thus putting your own skills to the test!
3. Supporting the growth of Jersey’s digital sector
Digital Jersey is dedicated to the growth of the digital sector and it’s therefore important that mentors continue to dedicate their time to nurturing and supporting talented individuals at all stages of their digital careers through our Mentor Programme. In turn, this expands the talent pool, improves more people’s knowledge, and contributes to the success of both existing and start-up businesses. Mentoring can be seen as an entrepreneurial way of paying it forward, and therefore you will be giving back to the digital industry.
4. Reverse mentoring
As a mentor, you are imparting knowledge and your own experiences. Yet, mentoring is a two-way street! It’s likely that your mentee will have skills and knowledge that you perhaps don’t, for example, digital shortcuts and hacks, and will help you with gaining new perspectives. Remember that the individuals you mentor today are the decision makers of tomorrow – enjoy learning from them.
5. Personal satisfaction and self-reflection
Seeing your mentee prosper and grow will no doubt give you a burst of career-related motivation! By sharing your experiences and knowledge, you are reliving what worked and what may not have worked for you, giving you chance to reflect on what you may do differently in the future.
We have a great pool of digital mentors covering various areas of expertise, but always encourage suitable individuals with an eagerness to invest in others to sign up to the programme. Mentors can choose how many mentees they wish to support per year, and also the type of mentee(s) they wish to support.
If you’d like to discuss anything before signing up as a mentor, please do not hesitate to contact Hayley Routier via [email protected]
