One of the best ways to kick off the New Year, besides goal-setting, is to practice thankfulness for the positives in your life. What better way to put that into action than by giving thanks to the mentors who have influenced personal and professional growth? January is National Mentoring Month and, more specifically, January 21st is Thank Your Mentor Day.
Mentoring has been proven to have positive effects, especially on young people. According to Mentoring.org, young adults who were at-risk for falling off track but had a mentor are:
- 55% more likely to enroll in college
- 78% more likely to volunteer regularly
- 90% are interested in becoming a mentor
- 130% more likely to hold leadership positions.
Imagine for a moment where you would be without your mentor. Now, thank them.
Thank Your Mentor
Are you struggling with what to say or how to say it? Here are some questions to help you gather your thoughts and a handy template to get your thank you letter started.
Mentor Thank You Note Brainstorming Questions:
- How did you and your mentor spend your time?
- What is your favorite quality about your mentor?
- What are the top three ways your mentor has made an impact on your life?
- Did your mentor open up new doors for you? If so, how?
- How does your mentor inspire you to continue to grow?
- What do you admire about your mentor?
- Where would you be without your mentor?
Mentor Thank You Note Template:
Dear ________________________,
I want to thank you for all you have taught me about _______________. Your guidance and knowledge in _______________ have been extremely helpful because________________________________________. My success in __________________________ was undoubtedly influenced by the time you have invested into my growth.
Words cannot express my gratitude for your belief in me. If we hadn’t of met I would not have ________________________________. You gave me the confidence to ___________________________.
My favorite thing about having you as a mentor is _______________________________. The most impactful thing you have taught me is __________________________________.
Once again, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You have forever changed my life for the better. I hope pay it forward by mentoring someone and making a positive impact on their life, just how you have on mine.
Thank you, again, for your time, support, guidance and abundant patience.
Sincerely,
___________________
Lastly, if you wanted to thank your mentor in a way other thank a thank you note, check out ten ways to show your appreciation by clicking here.
Get a Mentor if You Don’t Have One
Author and Speaker John Shufeldt has a deep passion for mentoring. John always wished he had a mentor when he was younger because he admits he could have used a swift kick in the rear end or pat on the back when necessary. He takes partial blame for not having a mentor because he never looked for one; however, he also advocates for people to seek out others to mentor. John wants people to understand they have a responsibility to search for a professional they would love to learn from.
Once a mentor is found, these ten questions can help build a basis for a great relationship.
Mentor Someone if You’re Not Already
The best thing to do is jump feet first into mentoring, even if they are nervous about being partially responsible for another human’s course of action. People will be surprised at how much a mentee will actually teach the mentor. It really is self-serving to mentor someone, in the best way possible! Become a mentor and a mentee for the sake of lifelong learning.
We would love to hear from you! What is your favorite thing about having a mentor or being a mentor?
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