25 Ways You Can be a Better Mentor or Team Leader

Are you interested in learning how to become a better mentor or team leader? If so, you’ve come to the right place. In a previous article, we provided an in depth guide on improving your communication skills. In today’s article, we’ll discuss how you can put those skills to use as a mentor or a team leader.

As you probably know, mentorship is a great way for experienced professionals to share their expertise, knowledge, and advice with individuals who are starting out in their careers or seeking to make a change.

A mentor can provide guidance and support, helping a mentee to navigate challenges, develop new skills, and make informed decisions.

Below, you’ll find 5 ways you can become a better mentor or team leader. And then we’ll provide an additional 20 quick tips that you can put to use right away.

Ready to get started? Terrific. Let’s dive in.

Tip #1: Provide Career Guidance and Advice

One of the most common ways that mentors help mentees is by providing career guidance and advice. For example, a mentor may help a mentee to identify their strengths and weaknesses, explore different career paths, and set goals for their professional development. They may also offer tips on how to succeed in a particular industry, such as networking strategies or best practices for job interviews.

A great example of this type of mentorship is the relationship between tech industry leader Sheryl Sandberg and her former mentee, Facebook COO, Cheryl Yeoh.

Sandberg provided Yeoh with career guidance and advice on how to navigate the male-dominated tech industry. Yeoh attributes much of her success to Sandberg’s mentorship, which helped her to develop the skills and confidence needed to become a successful entrepreneur.

Tip #2: Introduce Your Mentee to Important Contacts

Another way that mentors can help mentees is by introducing them to valuable contacts. Mentors often have extensive networks within their industry, which they can use to help their mentees make connections and build relationships with key stakeholders. This can be especially helpful for individuals who are just starting out in their careers and may not have many industry contacts of their own.

For example, fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg has been a mentor to many up-and-coming designers. In addition to offering guidance and advice, von Furstenberg also introduces her mentees to important industry contacts, such as buyers, editors, and investors. This has helped many of her mentees to gain visibility and secure funding for their fashion lines.

Tip #3: Provide Feedback and Constructive Criticism

Another way that mentors can help mentees is by providing feedback and constructive criticism. This can be especially valuable for individuals who are trying to develop new skills or take on new challenges. A mentor can provide honest and constructive feedback, helping the mentee to identify areas where they need to improve and providing guidance on how to do so.

A great example of this type of mentorship is the relationship between legendary basketball coach John Wooden and former UCLA basketball player Bill Walton. Wooden provided Walton with detailed feedback on his performance, helping him to improve his game and become one of the best players in the history of college basketball.

Tip #4: Share Industry Insights and Knowledge

Another way that mentors can help mentees is by sharing their industry insights and knowledge. Mentors often have years of experience and expertise within their field, which they can use to help their mentees gain a deeper understanding of industry trends, best practices, and emerging technologies.

For example, venture capitalist Ben Horowitz has mentored many entrepreneurs in the tech industry. In addition to offering guidance and advice, Horowitz also shares his industry insights and knowledge with his mentees, helping them to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and technologies. This has helped many of his mentees to develop innovative new products and services that have disrupted their industries.

Tip #5: Serve as a Role Model and a Source of Inspiration

Finally, mentors can serve as role models and sources of inspiration for their mentees. By sharing their own career journeys and personal experiences, mentors can help their mentees to gain perspective and see what is possible for them to achieve.

A great example of this type of mentorship is the relationship between Oprah Winfrey and actress Mindy Kaling. Winfrey served as a role model and source of inspiration for Kaling, who was inspired by Winfrey’s career success and philanthropic efforts. Kaling has credited Winfrey with giving her the confidence and guidance she needed to pursue her own dreams and achieve success as an actress, writer, and producer.

Putting it all into Action

Would you like 20 action steps that you can put to use right away to become a better mentor or team leader? If so, check out the mentorship action items below.

1. Expectations: Set clear expectations and goals for your mentee, and make sure they understand them.
2. Active Listening: Listen actively and ask open-ended questions to encourage your mentee to share their thoughts and ideas.
3. Feedback: Provide constructive feedback and support, and be specific about what your mentee is doing well and what they can improve on.
4. Empathy: Be patient and empathetic, and understand that everyone has their own learning pace and style.
5. Experience: Share your own experiences and lessons learned, and provide examples of how you have handled similar situations.
6. Mindset: Help your mentee develop a growth mindset, and encourage them to view challenges as opportunities to learn and grow.
7. Networking: Encourage your mentee to network and make connections within their industry.
8. Goals: Help your mentee set achievable and measurable goals, and work with them to develop an action plan.
9. Education: Encourage your mentee to seek out additional resources and education, such as books, workshops, or online courses.
10. Confidence: Help your mentee build their confidence and assertiveness, and teach them how to communicate effectively with others.
11. Diversity: Encourage your mentee to seek out diverse perspectives and ideas, and help them understand the importance of inclusivity and diversity.
12. Success: Celebrate your mentee’s successes and accomplishments, and encourage them to reflect on their achievements and growth.
13. Example: Be a role model and set a positive example for your mentee to follow.
14. Resilience: Help your mentee develop resilience and coping skills to handle setbacks and failures.
15. Challenges: Provide opportunities for your mentee to practice and develop their skills, such as by assigning them challenging tasks or projects.
16. Balance: Help your mentee understand the importance of work-life balance, and encourage them to prioritize their well-being.
17. Decisions: Provide guidance and support as your mentee navigates their career path, and help them make informed decisions.
18. Risks: Encourage your mentee to take risks and try new things, and help them build the courage to step outside their comfort zone.
19. Ideation: Be a sounding board for your mentee to bounce ideas off of, and help them think critically and creatively.
20. Responsiveness: Always be available and responsive to your mentee, and make sure they know they can come to you for advice and support.

In the end, mentorship can be a valuable resource for individuals seeking to advance their careers. Mentors can provide guidance, advice, and support, helping mentees to navigate challenges and achieve their goals.

Whether by offering career guidance and advice, introducing mentees to valuable contacts, providing feedback and constructive criticism, sharing industry insights and knowledge, or serving as role models and sources of inspiration, mentors can make a meaningful difference in the lives and careers of their mentees.

About the Author: Jamie Turner is an internationally recognized author, professor, consultant, and speaker who has helped employees at Mercedes-Benz, The Coca-Cola Company, Holiday Inn, Microsoft, Verizon and others do a better job leading, managing, and mentoring others. To have him speak at your event or organization, email him at: Jamie@JamieTurner.Live