Volunteer to Be a Mentor During National Mentoring Month

Jan. 25, 2011 - PRLog -- January is National Mentoring Month.  

   * National Mentoring Month is the time each year when our nation spotlights the importance of mentors and the need for every child to have a caring adult in his or her life.  When you serve as a mentor, you enrich your own life as much as you do the life of a child. (National Mentoring Month website)

While we typically think of an adult mentoring a child, mentoring relationships can exist between an older and younger adult, two adults, one with a skill to teach the other, or even a young person teaching something new to or helping an older person deal with day to day life.

Why is mentoring so valuable to another and to the one doing the mentoring?  Is it because one person imparts a useful skill or knowledge to another?  No, because tutoring does that and mentoring is more than tutoring.

The key to understanding the answer to this question lies in the relationship that the mentor and the one being mentored develop.

Individuals seeking help from a mentor are not only looking for ideas to learn how to do something better, but are mostly looking for someone who believes in them and their worthiness.

When the mentor communicates an unwavering belief in the worthiness of the other, the other becomes empowered to accomplish goals never before dreamed of.  In turn, the spirit and self-worth of the mentor rises to a new level.

The key to establishing a relationship that promotes self-worth is creating a relationship characterized by a climate of acceptance.  Here are ten guidelines for building a mentoring relationship founded on the principle of ACCEPTANCE.

Ten Guidelines for Effective Mentoring Built on a Foundation of Acceptance

A – ALLOW another to make amends and positive change.  Be forgiving and do not erect unnecessary roadblocks.

C – COMMIT deeply to helping another make change.  Show up.  Be on time and be available when needed.

C – CARE about another’s wellbeing and welfare only for the sake of that other - not for the enhancement of one’s own agenda or to receive congratulations and thanks.

E – EXPECT oneself to make a positive change before asking it of others.  It may seem easier and more satisfying to focus on another’s need for change first, but without your commitment to your own self-improvement, helping others may become a frivolous folly.

P – PROMOTE possibilities for new life changes and rebirth.  Remember the person needing and seeking your help is starting out in a state of helplessness, and must be given a clear vision and inspiration for a future of hope.

T – TOLERATE the mistakes and shortcomings of others.  Always remember that you are helping another learn, and learners only learn by making mistakes.

A – ACCENTUATE the positive in each and every moment.  Even the slightest words of encouragement are often enough to sustain a moment of positive self esteem.

N – NOMINATE and note the positive traits of others worthy of praise.  A person being mentored often wonders if he or she has any characteristics worthy of praise and recognition.  They need someone to say, “look at all you have accomplished and overcome" and “YES, YOU CAN!”

C – COMMUNICATE in a calm, clear and straightforward manner.  A calm voice gets more attention and understanding because the listener must reach out and lean in to hear the words.

E – ENERGIZE and motivate another to make continuous self-improvement.  Teach and recite the core motto of “Moment-to-Moment Optimism”- “Life is one continuous learning curve and every setback is an opportunity to learn.”

For more Moment-to-Moment Optimism: Click on the link: http://www.drrussbuss.com

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