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Mentoring as a learning aid
Learning is fundamental to the growth and success of any organization. And any business that fails to comprehend its importance is surely destined for a place among the also-rans.
Various possibilities exist where learning and development is concerned. One such option gaining in popularity is mentoring. It has now become recognized as having a key role in the personal and professional development of those participating in such programs.
Mentoring typically involves an older person imparting their knowledge and experience to a less worldly individual placed under their guidance. Enabling the "mentee" to learn thus tends to be the main objective of these arrangements.
Where adolescents are concerned, mentoring can prove especially significant. Support from an appropriate adult mentor can favorably impact on the younger person's emotional, psychological and cognitive facets. It is feasible to expect improvements to attitudes and behaviors that are subsequently reflected in their engagement, commitment and performance levels within learning and workplace contexts.
The potential benefits a mentee can gain are clearly extensive. Mentoring provides him or her with a valuable opportunity to learn from the experiences gained through being actively involved in the sessions. Observation, listening and reflection during and after interaction with their mentor are equally critical to learning. As a consequence of these experiences, mentees are then much better equipped to fruitfully navigate subsequent challenges in their environment.
Mentors are expected to make a positive difference to those under their supervision. That much is widely acknowledged, but what about the mentors? What...