Making Time for Mentoring

The most commonly cited obstacle to mentoring is lack of time. And who is not busy? At work and in life most of us are rushing from one activity to another in a frenzy of busy-ness. We live at a frenetic pace, in what's become a 24/7 world. What to do?

There are only four ways we can make more time available.

1. Efficiency

Use tools, techniques and technology to do things more quickly. To do lists, diaries, systems, checklists and clever equipment, help speed up, save time and do things right. But speeding up, without addressing the other three pillars of creating time only increases stress and our current fool-hardy tendencies toward busy-ness that are destroying quality of life.

2. Effectiveness

Apply the 80:20 principle, which says that 80% of results come from just 20% of actions, to ensure that you prioritise, delegate and do the right things. Just like your financial budget, look at where you are spending and decide what is and isn't a worthwhile investment of your time. What outcomes are produced from what you do? Could someone else achieve the same at less cost to you? Where does your effort make a difference and what really doesn't matter?

3. Stop!
Cease doing things that make no difference, waste time or worse, debilitate you. Avoid mind-numbing, energy sapping, harmful activities (or people) that drain energy or get in the way of productivity. This includes anything with a negative impact on you physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually. Such things as most TV, certain foods, and too much alcohol, reading or listening to doom and gloom and some kinds of music are real threats to your wellbeing. Consider jettisoning or delegating activities you don't need, enjoy or do well. Delegate what could be done adequately, or better, by others.

4. Start

Invest time in those things that calm, energise and revitalize. Increase wellbeing through nutrition, exercise, leisure, pleasure, relaxation, meditation, mental stimulation, emotional and social support and your choice of spiritual connection.

Traditional time management teaches these practices. However, the four pillars of creating time depend on one overarching element:

A clear sense of purpose,

A vision of where you are going,

A mission and principles to guide you.

When a compelling reason dominates what you do, it is reflected in the goals you set. Priorities automatically fall into place. Energy is focused and obstacles are overcome. You know why you want to do what you are doing and you figure out how best to do it.

Consciously held vision switches on the unconscious and releases creativity. Focus creates flow. Awareness of your mission and acceptance of your vital role to fulfill it is the difference between mere motivation and inspiration.

Ultimately, living in alignment with your purpose brings balance into your life because achieving it results in self-preservation and optimum performance.

The aim of mentoring is to help people identify and achieve their goals. More than anything else, alignment with purpose increases the likelihood of achieving goals. When mentors ask questions and listen and those mentored are willing to go deep to find their answers, the relationship becomes a sanctuary for soul-searching. This is the power of mentoring. This is why mentoring works.