The Mentoring Manifesto, Vol. 39: What Great Mentors Do
A great mentor can listen, ask good questions, bring others into the conversation, and tell a relevant story to make a point. He lets the conversation run when it’s going in a good direction but cuts it off as soon as it loses its point.
G.B. Pratt, who has been around Radical Mentoring as a mentee, mentor, and board member, put it this way…
“A mentor is much different from a teacher. Teachers have specific points to share while mentors guide. As a mentor, Regi invested his time to find out where we were coming from and then gave practical guidance on areas of growth. Our Radical Mentoring group was never about abstract ideas but about putting things into practice. Whether it was developing a mission statement, listening to God, being intentional with our time in reaching out to others, loving our wives, or raising our children, everything we learned had practical application, which was key to making change.”
One of the most valuable gifts we can give our groups is our time and attention. Where in today’s world does one go to be heard, where someone genuinely listens with no personal agenda, with nothing to gain or lose? Where the only motive is to point them to Jesus? I can’t think of too many places besides a mentoring group where this would be true.
Embrace this opportunity in front of you as a mentor. The resources below will help as you make the most of your role and influence as a mentor.
MENTOR TRAINING VIDEO: DOS AND DON’TS
7 QUALITIES A LEADER CAN’T AFFORD NOT TO HAVE
Not all leadership is great leadership. Which
PODCAST: LEARN THE ART OF ASKING QUESTIONS
In this podcast, author Emily P. Freeman unpacks how the art of asking questions helps us reflect on our experience. It’s an important art for mentors to master as they examine their own stories and experiences and help mentees do the same throughout the mentoring season.
WHEN IS ADVICE TAKEN AS CRITICISM?
Unsolicited advice is almost always taken as criticism. In this post, RM founder and Regi Campbell breaks down this principle, including how it applies to mentors. He also provides guardrails to help us best approach giving advice to our mentees.
Breathe New Life Into Your Discipleship
Small group mentoring can help you engage your people, build your core group of leaders, and transform your church. Our free resources equip you with all the tools you need to launch a sustainable mentoring program.