Teaching and learning. Part 4: mentoring

If you read a biography of a successful business person or a top sportsperson or talk to someone who is generally successful at what they do, then they will almost certainly identify a person who helped them achieve their goals. Many will refer to this person as a mentor; others won’t use the term, but will identify a significant person who at the start of their career gave them encouragement and advice.

Take time to think about your own life. Is there anyone who has been a significant influence in your development? This may have been a teacher from your school days, a youth leader, a relative or a colleague. Interestingly, a mentor is not seen to be the same as a friend; the relationship is different. A friend is often someone of similar age and background to ourselves—someone we spend time with, relate to on an equal level and share quite intimate aspects of our lives.