Mentors Matter

My Dad was born during the Great Depression. Money was scarce, and his parents were worried about raising crops to sell or feed, to their livestock. Work in those days was done by all the family members, no matter what the age. The extra hands were always needed. As a result, Dad only attended school until 10th Grade. He was like many in his generation.

Thus, much of Dad’s knowledge came from outside of school. He learned through practical hands-on experience watching and studying others in agriculture. He was always eager to learn, and in a time when computers did not exist, it was amazing to me how much knowledge and information he was able to gain. He took it upon himself to ask questions, aware the answers he heard may apply to his situation and be a step in the direction of reaching his goal of being a leading seedstock producer. He took it upon himself to seek out mentors.

My Dad had a long list of cattlemen and farmers who were willing mentors. He referred to these individuals as “Master Farmers” or “Master Breeders.” He had great admiration for these agriculturalists and was always grateful to them, aware that his success stemmed from these individuals’ willingness to share their time and talents with “a young farm kid from Manitoba.” Value of Mentors

Mentors are so valuable. They serve as role models, sounding boards, provide advice and guidance. They can cheer you on or act as a devil’s advocate. They are objective, teach new skills, help you develop confidence, and challenge you to grow and develop in your career or business.

Mentor relationships can be informal and unstructured like many

of the relationships my Dad had with fellow cattlemen. However, some mentorships can be formal, where actionable goals are set and defined, such as mentorship programs between young cattlemen’s organizations and senior association members. Identifying a Mentor

Where should you begin? Create a list of five to ten people you admire with whom you have a connection. For example, a fellow member of your cattlemen’s organization or breed association. What do you admire most about their experience and expertise? Do you want to learn about their ability to market bulls to commercial cattlemen or how they incorporated rotational grazing into their program to cut feed costs?

Not all your mentors have to represent a specific topic area. For example, my Dad selected masters in different areas such as genetics, nutrition, and fitting and showing cattle, to name a few. Each of these mentors will help you develop different skill sets to a greater extent.

Mentors might be a trusted friend, a colleague, a fellow cattleman, or your banker. Select individuals not only with great abilities and knowledge but someone you feel comfortable communicating with. The connection is the key. Your goal in selecting a mentor is to learn and benefit from someone else’s expertise on a particular subject or learn about a process or procedure.

Mentoring relationships are often long-term. They are not one short conversation. They involve discussing, practicing, evaluating, and re-trying processes or researching information. Be considerate of your mentor’s time by being focused and prepared during discussions.

It might seem logical that one of your mentors is your supervisor, manager, or boss. You will undoubtedly learn from them but choosing a supervisor as your mentor can make it difficult for them to have an objective view.

B. Lynn Gordon

Becoming a Mentor

There are also many benefits to being a mentor. The opportunity to expand your viewpoints as you learn new ideas and insight from someone of a different generation or different experience trajectory.

Mentors also can strengthen their skills. They can enhance their leadership and communication skills. The most essential service of a mentor is the reassurance you provide value to another individual allowing them to reach their goals. Mentoring can bring you great pride.

In my Dad’s time, choosing a mentor meant selecting someone he could visit with face-to-face or by making a phone call. Times have changed. One of my nephews, who participated in a formalized mentoring program developed by a cattlemen’s association, selected a mentor who lived 750 miles away.

My nephew was seeking an expert on the topic of grazing, and because of technology, this was possible without having geographical boundaries. E-mentoring allows for virtual faceto-face relationships to be developed through regular communication utilizing social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Coaching is a new buzzword. However, it’s important to understand the difference between coaching and mentoring. Coaching focuses on the here-and-now problems, whereas mentoring focuses on the future and develops broader skills, knowledge, and experiences.

Keep in mind, whether you are seeking out a mentor or will serve as a mentee, the most productive mentoring relationship occurs when it works for both parties involved.

Editor’s Note: The author’s dad was Bob Gordon, Kinnaber Cattle Co., Souris, Manitoba, Canada.

B. Lynn Gordon, Leader Consulting, LLC, Grand Island, Neb. lynn@leaderconsulting.biz www.leaderconsulting.biz