On Mentoring
Reminder to Self: Mentoring is something that can happen naturally under the guise of friendship. It doesn’t have to be announced. It doesn’t need to be labeled. Mentoring is not one person telling another person what is ‘right” or what is “wrong” with them. Mentoring is a genteel leading to a place of truth.
Although the mentor may be aware that the relationship is destined for mentoring, announcing that fact is usually not necessary. In order to mentor someone there must be a level of intimacy that has naturally developed. If you want to speak into someone’s life, you must first invest into them; invest time. My pastor for life, Bishop Phillips (see Promiseland, Austin, TX) always said, “People don’t care what you know until they know you care.”
Be careful not to express an attitude of “I am better than you”, “I am ‘ahead’ of you” or “I know more than you”. Once pride is revealed (even perceived pride) by the mentor, establishing a mentoring relationship will become more difficult.
Jesus never told people, “Follow me, or else”. If you are a leader, people will follow you regardless of your “position”. Not sure where I heard it but…”if no one is following you, you aren’t a leader”. If you are a leader, no matter what position you are in (even if you hold no official “position”) people will naturally follow you. Mentoring works in a similar way. If you truly called to mentor, you will not have to prod or beat people into following you – it will happen in a natural way. If will often happen over coffee or while just hanging out, or maybe while you are painting a wall. It doesn’t have to be intentional to be mentoring.
Often times mentoring is simply about casting a better vision for the mentoree. Speak to who God created them to be even if they aren’t there yet. Speak to their purpose; speak to their calling; speak to their gift.
