Nine steps to successful mentoring

Matrix global design team member and Eastern Hairdresser of the Year 2015 finalist Paul Falltrick provides his top tips on succesful mentoring. Be prepared to share A key part of being a mentor is imparting knowledge, so be sure that you're happy to share your journey and the wisdom you've learnt along the way before agreeing to give your guidance. Are you a good match? Consider the compatibility of the potential partnership. Are you the right person to mentor this individual? If I'm randomly approached by someone at an event who has a passion for creating bold colours, they're unlikely to be as suited to me as a person who loves to learn about new styling techniques, has attended one of the cutting courses I've presented and taken the time to get to know more about me via Facebook before they approach me via email. Ensuring you're a good fit will help save time and disappointment in the long run. Be prepared to keep learning To consistently have enough knowledge to share, keep learning yourself. Make a commitment to continue growing and developing so that you'll have a pool of both new and old experiences to refer to. Be a good listener Be at the end of the phone, email or text if your mentee needs you and try to respond at your earliest convenience. Be honest yet constructive If you don't know the answer to their question, be honest and say so. When it comes to their work, honesty is also key, but it's important to keep an open mind. Even if the work that your mentee has produced is not to your own personal taste, it doesn't mean it isn't good. Try to avoid using negative phrases such as 'I don't like…' as these can be harsh words to take if you're a creative person. Be patient Individuals learn at different speeds and require varying levels of support, so be prepared for this. How much time you decide to give will depend on you and the needs of the individual. Discuss what level of commitment you're able to give to help manage their expectations. Learn from mistakes Often we learn more from making mistakes than we do from getting everything right, therefore sometimes part of being a good mentor requires gently watching from a close distance and letting the person you're guiding learn through first-hand experience. Recognise when those incidents arise and when they do, help them through it. Let them see that they shouldn't beat themselves up about what's happened but instead use it as a chance to grow. Take a measured approach As a mentor, your role is not to become their mum or dad, so whilst you'll want to support them, try not to become too much of a crutch. Where possible, try to avoid getting involved in personal issues. Enjoy the experience Becoming a mentor can be fun! It makes you revisit things and helps you to grow as a person too. What's more, knowing you're playing a part in guiding a gifted individual’s growth can be hugely rewarding. So give mentoring a try- who knows which future hairdressing star's future you'll help to shape.