Mentorship is something that I hold dear to my heart and have throughout my career. It is something that provides me personal and professional fulfillment. One of my greatest joys in being a part of the CRE industry is the community and family we foster. Mentorship is one of the best ways to build loyalty and trust while retaining the talented people we invest in. Mentorship and teaching are things we all do, whether we are conscious of it or not.

The impact of mentorship is immense. Teams are more productive when everyone is moving in the same direction, and a mentorship program can give direction as an employee becomes a key part of your organization. Mentorship can build a foundation for them to stand on as they push through the challenges we all face. Actively invest in your mentees. Enable their continued education and teach them directly while building their self-value. Mentorship programs help create an environment where people can grow and learn from each other; improving their performance both as individuals and as a team.

Developing the Next Generation of Leaders

Teams that develop their own leaders through mentor/mentee programs can develop loyalty and staying power in their employees. A mentor and mentee relationship can help members of your team develop the skills and expertise to become future leaders while increasing the productivity of your team even further. Giving your mentees the information and experience you have developed at your properties can put them a step ahead of the challenges we have faced. Things like what a tenant prefers, how to solve specific issues, how to navigate and solve a mistake.

Mentorship also gives an opportunity to foster and develop a more diverse workforce. Ensuring that people from a variety of cultures, backgrounds and ages can access mentorship programs and grow into our industry will ensure the excellence of our next generation of leaders. Our industry benefits from a diversity of thought and experiences, the different perspectives we see the world through allow us to react to anything and everything.

A diversity of thought enables CRE to continue to sit at the edge of innovating by defining the trends that affect us all. Growing this team can lead to numerous future benefits and will allow your next generation of leaders to utilize a diversity of thoughts and experiences as they lead your organizations.

Passive Mentorship

While active mentorship through check-ins and investments are important, another part of preparing future generations of leaders involves passive mentorship, which embraces the importance of leading by example. Be an example, show your mentee how you handle both the good and bad situations. The highest praise a mentee can give you is a silent one – confidence and success – and it can be seen in how they conduct themselves every day.

Passive mentorship can be strengthened through the active investments you make in your mentee and can show up as your mentee continues the cycle of mentorship. It is important to remember that we are not just raising the next generation of leaders, but the way we teach and grow them will define how they mentor in the future.

Next Steps

A mentorship program can be an excellent way of helping your colleagues reach their full potential. By helping your team members get to know each other and learn from each other, you can help foster a positive culture of collaboration and encourage your team members to grow and learn from each other. Growing and investing in your team can bring about numerous benefits for your organization and you as an individual.

If you are looking to strengthen your team, mentorship can be a great approach. It can help to build stronger relationships between team members, grow the loyalty they feel towards your organization, and provide opportunities for learning and growth. As you continue on your journey through the CRE industry, consider who will follow your path tomorrow, and how you can help them succeed.

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