“The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image, but allowing them to create themselves.” – Steven Spielberg.
The majority of us in this business owe our start to someone, be they a true mentor, a family friend, a relative, or a kind person who saw something in us that led to encouragement and guidance. Mentoring others is paying it forward, but more so, it’s paying back. Committing to mentoring and guiding others is a responsibility that not all have the time, patience, or demeanor to commit to. Those that do are often the ones who themselves were mentored.
Decades ago, as a young boy who wanted to be on the radio, a friend of the family invited me to visit WTAE-TV4 (Pittsburgh) as she was a guest on Dialing For Dollars. The host, Dale Taylor, when asked by our friend what advice he would have for me to become “good enough” to be on the radio, said, “Read aloud, do that over and over again, until you can read and sound like you’re speaking your words.” My mother had to listen to me read the newspaper aloud every morning for the next two years. I didn’t know it then, but that was the start of him mentoring me.
To be a mentee in search of a mentor, there’s not necessarily a ladder of superiority that mentors come from, but rather it’s finding someone you admire, see as successful, and whose career path or accomplishments align with your desires and goals. Most importantly, whose opinion you respect. Who can you learn from, while having a discourse with them that includes your opinion, and who will commit to listening as much as they speak. To me, these things are important criteria for picking a mentor.
Being a mentee doesn’t come with a finish line or a destination. The journey continues, in most cases, through our careers. While Mr. Taylor would be the first mentor in my broadcast life, there were many others who I learned from along the way. Too many to mention, but several were my employers and/or supervisors. Some were my employees, clients, or friends I’d met in church or elsewhere.
Because of the many mentors I’ve had in my career, I have wholeheartedly embraced being a mentor. My encouragement is for those who have the time to make the commitment to be a mentor to become one. I find it gratifying, but also educational. I learn as I mentor.
One of the greatest recognitions in my career took place this past April at the NAB when the Mentoring and Inspiring Women in Radio honored me with the 3rd Annual Erica Farber Impact Award. Theirs is a great group. I don’t mentor to be recognized, but I deeply appreciated their acknowledgement. I’ve also mentored through The Alliance for Women in Media and The Country Radio Broadcasters. There are many opportunities to become a mentor.
The Traits of a Great Mentor
- Knowledge and Practical Experience: Sharing insights in a way that motivates mentees to think critically and act autonomously.
- Active Listening: Truly listening involves being fully present, asking clarifying questions, and reflecting back what is heard to ensure understanding. This builds trust and helps mentors tailor guidance effectively. Great mentors demonstrate commitment by following up on discussions, providing additional resources, or checking in on progress, which strengthens the mentoring relationship.
- Emotional Intelligence: High emotional intelligence allows mentors to “hear” what is unsaid, recognize mentee needs, and respond with appropriate guidance, balancing support and challenge.
- Personalized Guidance: The best mentors adapt their approach to the mentee’s strengths, context, and goals, ensuring advice is relevant and actionable. Remember that mentoring is NOT “One Size Fits All.”
- Goal Setting and Feedback: Effective mentors collaborate with mentees to set clear, achievable goals and provide constructive feedback that highlights strengths while offering practical improvement strategies.
- Insight Over Advice: Rather than simply giving answers, great mentors provide insights that encourage mentees to develop their own problem-solving skills and confidence.
The most valuable part of being a mentor to me, beyond feeling fulfilled when I see mentees excel, is the personal growth experienced when working and interacting with those I’m mentoring. Mentoring at its best is a two-way street. If you’ve never mentored another, consider making yourself available to serve as a mentor. You will get as much as you give.
