1When I was asked to mentor three new colleagues, I felt honoured but slightly nervous about the responsibility.
2Each of them came from a completely different background, so a single approach was never going to work.
3During our first meetings, I listened more than I spoke, which helped me understand their individual goals.
4One colleague lacked confidence, so I gave her small tasks that she could complete successfully on her own.
5Another was highly skilled but impatient, and he needed guidance on working with slower team members.
6We met every fortnight to review their progress and to adjust the plan whenever something was not working.
7I quickly realised that mentoring is less about giving answers and more about asking the right questions.
8By the end of six months, all three had grown noticeably, both in skill and in confidence.
9Watching their development taught me as much about myself as it taught them about the job.
10Now I strongly recommend mentoring to absolutely anyone who genuinely wants to become a better leader.