Hi! Welcome back to #MentorshipMonday! When considering a career in real estate-it's important to evaluate the systems available for growing people and developing skills. Many companies note their new agent training programs..but finding true mentorship opportunities are rare and valuable. First, let's examine the distinctive differences between mentorship and a training program.
One of the main differences between mentoring and training is the nature of the relationship involved. A mentor-mentee relationship is individual, confidential and friendly; a trainer-trainee relationship is impersonal, social and hierarchical. Typically, one mentor is responsible for one mentee, whereas one trainer may be responsible for an entire group of students. The result is that a mentoring relationship is more exclusive than a training relationship.
A mentor is a trusted, seasoned advisor who supports and guides someone through their personal and/or professional journey. They do so by getting to know their mentee, providing resources tailored to their specific needs, and brainstorming solutions to challenges. Motivation is a major objective in mentoring. This is not necessarily the case in training. Though a mentor is responsible for dispensing valuable lessons to a mentee, they are also expected to provide encouragement and support. A trainer, on the other hand, is expected to deliver a content-based lesson as effectively as possible. A trainer could become a motivating force in a students' life, but it is not necessarily a priority for them to do so.
The role of advice is another difference between mentoring and training. In mentoring, advice is long-term, practical counsel intended to help the mentee reach his or her long term goals. In training, advice is limited to points of guidance pertaining to the execution of specific duties.
The benefits of mentoring and training are quite different. Mentoring provides mentors and mentees with mutual support; the mentor gets a sense of satisfaction from being seen as a source of wisdom, while the mentee gets invaluable advice and a go-to person with whom to discuss challenges and setbacks. Training generally provides a simpler kind of support; the trainer gets the pleasure of teaching and instructing, and the trainee gets practical know-how.
It is important to take a good long look at the person you intend to emulate, and ask yourself if you would be satisfied in their shoes. That’s not to say they will represent your ceiling, but understanding the level of success your mentor has experienced should “set the bar” for what you can expect in the future. Once you are truly convinced your prospective mentor can get you to where you want to be, you are on the right track. However, those who are less convinced of their mentor’s ability should look elsewhere. At the very least, there is no use in working with a mentor with no experience in what you want to do. Many training programs provide experienced trainers, however, they are not experienced real estate professionals.
Moreover, to be successful at what you love, it doesn't hurt to have direction and assistance from another individual who has taken a similar path to yourself. Recent studies report that 93% of all new real estate entrepreneuers recognize that mentoring can help them succeed. 92% with a mentor agree that it has directly impacted the growth and survival of their business. And, a massive 89% of those who don't have a mentor...wish they did. 84% stated that mentorship has helped them avoid mistakes in their business.
If you are interested in learning more about mentorship opportunities-check out our website, www.theshafferway.com. See you next Monday for more Mentorship Tips and Tricks! Warmly, Susan