When you think about mentoring, most people think it’s all about giving—handing down ‘your’ knowledge, dropping ‘your‘ strategies, and sharing ‘your’ shortcuts. But the real truth is this: the biggest beneficiary of mentoring isn’t your team member. It’s you.
Why does it work this way?
- Accountability. Your people don’t copy your words. They mirror your actions. If you’re sloppy, they’ll be sloppy. If you’re disciplined, they’ll level up.
- Clarity. Teaching forces you to simplify, sharpen, and face your own blind spots. You can’t mentor well without getting honest about where you’re fuzzy.
- Legacy. Revenue and headcount are short-term scoreboards. The real measure of leadership is how many people you’ve elevated.
Here’s the paradox: mentoring looks like pouring yourself out, but in reality, it pours right back into you. Leaders who avoid it cheat their team of growth—and cheat themselves of transformation.
The Challenge: This week, pick one person you lead and mentor them on purpose. Don’t just give advice—live the example, bring the clarity, and hold the standard.
Do that, and watch what happens. They’ll rise. And when they do—you’ll rise higher too.
