Lead Lines

Taking the Lead:  Reasons managers should mentor

The benefits of having a mentor are well known, but what about the benefits of becoming one? According to the leadershiparticles.net article “Becoming a Mentor,” the following three benefits make becoming a mentor a worthwhile endeavor:

• Maintaining knowledge. “When you become a mentor to somebody, you’re forced to keep yourself up-to-date on the latest happenings,” explains the author. There is a common idea that whatever knowledge exists in any given field right now will double within seven years. Being responsible for the development of another person demands that managers stay knowledgeable.

• Learning from reps. Constant research and development is happening in the world of sales. A new rep will be learning based on what has just been discovered. Someone who is brand new to the industry will have different perspectives and information than a manager who has been in the field for years.

• Networking. “By becoming a mentor to another person, you might come into contact with other folks that can help you out in your own endeavors that you previously might not have had contact with,” writes the author.

“Think for a moment about one potential person you can mentor. Give it some serious thought. Would it be worth it, for you and for them?” the author concludes.