Mentoring is not new. It is an archetype which originates in Greek mythology, in Homer’s Odyssey. Being a wise and faithful advisor, Mentor was entrusted to protect Telemachus, Odysseus’s son, when the king left for Troy. Athena, the goddess of wisdom, also assumed his form so as to guide, teach, and protect Telemachus.
Today, mentoring is used to denote a process in which an experienced individual helps another person develop skills, set goals and reach his or her potential in personal or professional life. Mentors guide mentees through a series of confidential, one-on-one conversations and other learning activities. A mentoring relationship benefits the mentees by providing opportunities for learning from the knowledge and the experience of your mentor and develop a more holistic way of thinking about the issues affecting you personally and professionally.
