7 skills to develop through mentoring in 2023
When hiring or appointing someone to a new position, employers are looking for skills that tell them you are the right candidate. These skills change with trends in the job market. Here are 7 skills employers are looking for - and how mentoring can help you acquire or further develop them!
Active listening
Active listening is an extremely relevant skill in business. It is an approach to communication that requires full attention and a genuine understanding of what the other person is saying. It involves avoiding focusing on the answer or on one's own concerns and instead focusing on the feelings, needs and perspectives of the other person. Active listening is very useful in the workplace because it can improve communication, strengthen relationships, promote more informed decision making and increase job satisfaction. By actively listening, teamwork becomes more effective and meetings more productive. What's more, active listening allows us to learn from others, which can make us more creative. This skill is highly sought after in the vast majority of positions, especially when it comes to management!
Active listening in mentoring
Especially as a mentor, active listening is a skill that is used in every meeting. The 80/20 rule is sometimes advocated, which means that the mentor spends 80% of the time listening and 20% talking. In this way, you will be called upon to question, rephrase, reflect your mentee's feelings or simply be fully present. Mentoring is therefore an excellent way to practice active listening. This is also true as a mentee, since it is an interpersonal relationship in which understanding the other is essential.
Leadership
Leadership is the art of guiding, inspiring and motivating others to achieve a common goal. This requires good communication skills, including the ability to convey one's vision and goals and to build strong relationships. Other elements of leadership include flexibility and integrity. This skill is always in demand in the workplace. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 66% of employers are looking for employees with leadership skills. Yet, these employers feel that only 33% of recent graduates meet their expectations in this area. Developing your leadership skills will set you apart from other candidates.
Mentoring, a source of leadership
The mentoring relationship is a very effective way to develop the leadership skills of mentees by allowing them to receive advice, constructive feedback and guidance from an experienced and competent mentor. Mentors are not left out! Research also shows that mentoring helps mentors develop their leadership skills.
Decision Making
Being able to make decisions with complex consequences is a great asset in the job market. If you are inexperienced, or even if you are in a new environment, it can be difficult to know what to prioritize. Employers are looking for people who can make thoughtful choices that will move the company toward a positive outcome.
Mentoring as a tool to inform decisions
By listening to the opinions and ideas of others, you can make more informed and balanced decisions that take into account different perspectives. If you are a mentor, you can learn from your mentees to renew the way you do things!
Curiosity
Curiosity comes with an open mind, a desire to learn and discover new things. It is now essential in a fast-changing world where innovation and creativity are crucial to stand out. This skill will also allow you to succeed in an increasingly diverse professional world by facilitating the understanding of others' perspectives and ideas. Exploring new ideas allows you to learn and grow as a person and as a professional; all of which makes you more attractive in the job market!
Curious about mentoring?
Give it a try! You will be able to meet all kinds of people, from different cultures and in different spheres. It is a perfect context to learn more about the world around you.
Time and priority management
Being able to manage your own schedule and priorities is crucial, especially in a telecommuting environment. It is one of the most sought after soft skills by employers, and for good reason. By improving your time management and priority management, you'll be more efficient, but you'll also learn to communicate your limitations to your manager.
Do you have a time management strategy in place?
If not, this is exactly the kind of topic you can discuss with your mentor! Even if you've been in the workforce for several years, it's never too late to get mentoring from someone who can help you with your time management. Having good time management will improve your professional and personal life!
Taking care of yourself
Employers are more concerned than ever about the well-being of their employees. Many employers are using a variety of measures to improve employee well-being, and a mentoring program can be one of them! Taking care of yourself increases productivity. According to Forbes, "People who take care of themselves [and practice self-management] have better cognitive abilities. They are more focused.”
What better for the mind than mentoring?
Mentoring is about taking care of yourself. Many mentees report feeling less alone in their daily challenges thanks to their mentor and greatly appreciate this time to stop and talk.
Emotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence is the ability to identify, understand and manage one's own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. It involves recognizing emotional signals and understanding their impact on thoughts and actions. It also involves increasing one's ability to manage them effectively to improve interpersonal relationships and work performance. Studies show that having good emotional intelligence is correlated with better job satisfaction, better performance and reduced stress levels. Working on your emotional intelligence will help you build stronger and more positive relationships with your colleagues, as well as with your loved ones.
Mentoring as a practice opportunity
Coaching and mentoring can be great sources for developing your emotional intelligence. On the one hand, the mentee can learn from the advice of his or her mentor, who has probably experienced more stressful situations at work than the mentee. On the other hand, the mentor can open up to different ways of approaching everyday situations by observing his mentee or mentees. It's a win-win situation!