July Question of the Month - Join the conversation and receive a badge

Jen Lawson · 07/02/24

Empathetic

Laura McDonald · 07/02/24

Inspirational

Lauren.Traub · 07/02/24

It's hard to narrow it down to one word, but caring is my top word since I feel it encompasses many other sentiments. When a leader cares about who they are leading, they will listen to their ideas or concerns, they will advocate for them when they aren't in the room, they will be honest and open when the person needs feedback or constructive criticism, and they will encourage them to strive for greater things.

Lauren Dominique · 07/02/24

EMPOWERING 💪

Zachary Ziegler · 07/02/24

I believe @JenniferTorres did already use this one, but the same word came to mind while reading the prompt - Investment.

And I don't mean this in the monetary sense, but investment on a personal level is a sort of risk that a mentor takes in choosing to believe in the value someone may have in the future as compared to what they are today. An uninvested mentor doesn't make any efforts beyond what they've been assigned to make sure that their students succeed while an invested mentor takes pride in their students' accomplishments. A mentor who dedicates their whole self into improving someone else will always be a better mentor in my eyes because they are investing their effort, resources, time, and probably a lot of headaches into building you up because they are intrinsically driven and relish your success.

As a mentor myself, I feel that the amount of investment I put into teaching directly correlates to how well I can impart knowledge in others too. Not only is it more engaging from the mentor perspective, but it also matters more to you when things go well and you can empathize better when they don't. Sharing in those emotions alongside your students will drive you to improve your own process and cater it to their needs, which in my experience further drives your investment into your peers.