By Merissa Himraj CEO of Wavemaker South Africa
Mentoring and mentorship are some of the most valuable tools in your career growth and development. As someone who has been mentored as well as being a mentor, I am a super fan of this way of learning and growing.
For the mentee, it’s like having your personal coach or advisor with whom you can discuss any challenges you might be facing in the workplace or personally that relate to work performance. A good mentor creates a safe psychological space for you to explore different ways to problem solve. As one of my favourite mentors once said, “ you hold the key, I just help you unlock the right door.”
The mentor’s role will be to help you with tips, techniques, and training or observation that allow you to solve your problems whilst you continue to learn as you do so. A mentor is not going to have the answers to your every problem, what they will teach you is how to think critically, and problem-solve without fear. They will also guide you in terms of career growth and what your roadmap might be for future success. Mentors can also teach you critical skills like networking, closing sales or making difficult decisions in an informed manner.