About a year back, Vala Afshar tweeted this image, making me reflect on the role a mentor plays in our growth journey.
All through my journey starting from my early days as a new insurance professional till date, I have been fortunate to have the backing of a few mentors at every point in my career. Some were my immediate bosses, others were senior colleagues, and at times, a professional coach. Immediate bosses have the unique opportunity to nurture and grow talent in their teams.
How can one nurture talent?
Largely, this involves allowing individuals to find their ground and stand up to the many challenges at work. It is important for bosses to create a safe working place for their team to grow.
So, what does a safe workplace mean?
A safe workplace is a place that opens doors to opportunities to expand and grow one’s ability and succeed. It is a place where one is not afraid to try out new things and fail. Bosses that create such a workplace defend their team when needed and ensure their team gets the recognition and reward they deserve for their sincere efforts.
What role does a mentor play?
A peer mentor leads by example and is never shy to create more leaders within the team. A mentor guides every step and is always there for a team mate both in low and high moments, constantly acknowledging that the team member’s work matters. A mentor gives their team the chance to make mistakes and learn from them to come out better.
A professional mentor can help answer some very pertinent questions:
How much can we learn on our own?
How do we know what is the most relevant skill for today?
How do we apply practical knowledge to our work opportunities?
How can we manage the dynamic challenges at the workplace?
How do we build and plan a career of our choice?
Last but not least, people are subjective when it is about themselves. Even the most successful people may not be capable of an objective assessment of their work. It is therefore important to have a mentor to help reflect, break the self-created barriers, and stretch higher to reach one’s full potential.
Whether you are looking to keep pace with the industry, hone your skillset, or develop a new skillset in banking and insurance, IRA can help. Check out our upcoming training sessions. Learn from banking and insurance industry experts in real-time!
