Without the mentoring of my high school coach, I (Bill) would have never been able to achieve the success I did. I was cut from the junior varsity basketball team. The varsity coach took me to the Boys and Girls Club, paid the $2 membership and told me if I practice every day he would put me on the varsity team. His belief in me made me realize I had the potential to be successful. We went on to win three straight state championships.
Research increasingly confirms how critical it is for young people to have caring mentors. But here is the real secret about mentoring that we've both learned through our work at the MENTOR partnership: The mentors frequently learn as much as the students. In the corporate world, formal mentoring programs make sure newer employees are learning all they need to be successful. But, just as importantly, these programs enable mentoring managers to sharpen their skills and become better leaders by interacting with their more junior colleagues.
To read the original article: Great Mentors Get Out of the Office - Bill Russell and Nancy Altobello - Harvard Business Review
