7 tricks and tips for mentoring - Find someone you respect and trust. Integrity and character are the most important qualities to look for.
- Look for a person who’s interested in a relationship. A mentor needs to be open and willing to relate to you, since you’ll eventually discuss both professional and personal issues.
- Focus on a mentor who has the willingness to spend time with you. A lack of time is the No. 1 reason people give for not wanting to mentor others, says Spencer. You can help by being flexible and fitting into your mentor’s schedule.
- Look beyond your door. Although a top real estate practitioner may be a great mentor, you can also learn about business principles, and perhaps get a new perspective, from an outsider.
- Don’t expect the mentor to be a magician. Mentors can give you new insights, but they won’t solve all your personal or business problems. A good mentor will direct you to other sources of assistance for special problems.
- Opt for openness. Good mentors let you into their world, sharing both professional and personal triumphs and failures.
- Don’t expect instant results. Mentoring is a journey. As long as you’re learning something you didn’t know before, the mentoring relationship is working. Persevere. “Mentoring takes as long as it takes,” says Spencer.
More: For more information about relationship-based mentoring, read David Stoddard’s The Heart of Mentoring or check out the Field Guide to Mentoring at REALTOR.org.
SOURCE: Barry Spencer, vice president of business development with Leaders Legacy Inc. in Atlanta. 
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