What Is A Mentor? Understanding Its Definition And Types In Detail

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'If you can't see where you are going, ask someone who has been there before.' This quote holds true for anyone venturing into an unknown domain. With ambiguity and self-doubt ringing in one’s head, the only thing that a person seeks in this situation is guidance. And this is where the role of a mentor comes in. But do you know exactly what a mentor is? This article will cover everything in this regard.

What is a mentor?

You must have heard so many successful people crediting their success to their mentors. One such example is Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Apple’s founder Steve Jobs. The two spent considerable time together discussing how Zuckerberg could develop Facebook as per his ultimate vision. So much so that when Zuckerberg was having a tough time during the early stages of Facebook, Steve Jobs advised him to visit a temple in India for his mental clarity. And Zuckerberg heeded! In fact, as per Zuckerberg, the trip to the temple helped him collect learning experiences that played a critical role in reinforcing the idea of Facebook. All thanks to Steve Jobs, who he considered his mentor and role model. 

So, coming back to our question - what is a mentor? A mentor is an experienced individual who supports and guides you to successfully face challenges on the professional or personal front. They use their experiences and understanding to show you the right way to proceed and achieve your career goals. 

Thus, a mentor is a friend, philosopher, and guide who works for the success of the mentee by pulling out pieces of advice and expert tips from their big bag of learnings. 

Types of Mentors

In the context of mentorship, there is never a  'one size fits all' advice. Hence, there are different types of mentors depending on the needs of the mentee. Let's discuss them in detail.

1. Traditional Mentor

A traditional mentor is an individual who has more experience than you do in a particular domain. It involves a top-down approach, where a senior person from one's professional network offers advice to the junior employees. Note that the word 'traditional' in no way means 'orthodox'. It is perhaps one of the most common approaches to mentorship that offer a supportive learning relationship between the mentor and the mentee. 

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2. Reverse Mentor

A reverse mentor is one who may be younger or junior to the mentee but has more experience in a particular area. For example, a Gen Z employee guiding a millennial boss regarding social networking. 

Unlike traditional mentoring, reverse mentoring helps to build a symbiotic professional relationship between the mentor and the mentee. While the mentee gets to learn a new skill that is in demand, the mentor gets to establish personal connections with more senior colleagues who can help open doors to career advancement and growth opportunities in the future. 

What is 'flash mentoring'? Flash mentoring is when employees are given short sessions with many mentors to encourage connections between new employees and leaders.

3. Peer Mentor

A peer mentor is someone who holds a similar level of responsibility as the mentee in an organization. So, hierarchically, they are in the same career stages as the mentee. An example would be an experienced student being a peer mentor to students who are new in college.

Most peer mentors are picked for their confidence, communication skills, and sensibility. A peer mentor may guide an individual to help them adjust to a new setting or assist them in recovering or rehabilitating. One benefit of this type of mentoring is that peers with different skill sets can even learn from each other and grow together. 

4. Aspirational Mentor

An aspirational mentor is someone who is inspirational. They may be role models outside your work or someone who you really look up to at a professional level. An aspirational mentor is valued for their leadership skills, talent, or knowledge. They possess the qualities that you admire and want to inculcate in yourself. Some aspirational mentors may even inspire you to take up a particular career path. 

5. Identity Mentor

This mentoring practice is based on the principle of homophily i.e. people feel more connected to those they perceive to be similar to them. For example, a member of an LGBTQ group is more likely to be influenced and inspired by a leader belonging to the same group than any other person. This is because they share common interests and aspirations. 

Apart from support and advice and an identity mentor can make a mentee feel secure and self-assured. Diversity, equity, and inclusion mentoring and affinity circles are examples of identity mentoring. 

6. Practical Mentor

As the name suggests, a practical mentor is someone you might seek guidance from if one needs to approach a real-world problem or situation. They provide guidance, support, practical advice, and even constructive criticism because of their firsthand experience and knowledge.

For example, a young tech startup founder would prefer to seek advice from an experienced entrepreneur who has successfully built and scaled tech companies in the past. They can provide guidance on various aspects and offers useful insights into industry trends and market dynamics. 

7. Coping Mentor

A coping mentor helps a mentee relieve stress in challenging situations. One can discuss their worries and apprehensions with these coping mentors, who are known to be great listeners. They offer pragmatic advice for your personal development and can be your buffer in stressful times. 

Tips for establishing a successful mentor-mentee relationship

1. Listen to mentors and ask thoughtful questions

A mentor is an experienced person who invests their precious time to ensure mentees' personal and professional growth. Hence, it is important to listen to them and understand their experiences. You can clarify your doubts and take up your questions about your career aspirations or other goals with them. However, don't be a passive partner in the sessions, as it may just kill the interest of the mentor. 

2. Ask for feedback

You can't grow without taking any feedback. And who else would be a better person for constructive criticism than your own mentor? A perfect mentor understands your personal situation, career or business setting and can help you improve upon it if you ask for their feedback. Open and honest communication is the key to a healthy mentoring relationship and positive interactions. 

3. Be patient

Having a mentor may help you cross many hurdles that you might face in your professional journey. However, patience is the key. So whether it is your career coach or an industry expert who you regard as a mentor, their advice needs to be put into action, and it might take some time to show fruitful results. 

A mentor can be immensely valuable in your personal and career development. Their guidance, insights, and strategies can help you avoid common pitfalls, make informed decisions, and accelerate your learning and growth. So are you ready to get mentored? Explore the top-rated mentors by the learners' community at Unstop and #BeUnstoppable. 

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