By Dick Biggs

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Leadership is influence. Leaders who mentor potential leaders multiply their effectiveness. There is no success without a successor."

--Dr. John Maxwell, Developing The Leaders Around You

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While it's true that a role model can be a mentor and vice versa, the two concepts are not the same. For instance:

• A role model is "a person whose behavior in a particular role is imitated by others." A mentor is "a trusted counselor, guide, tutor or coach."



• Role modeling isn't optional. The question is: Are you setting a positive or negative example? Mentoring is optional. The question is: If you don't get involved, who will?



• You don't choose to be a role model; you're chosen. You're not chosen as a mentor; you choose.



• When you're a role model, the primary focus is on you. When you're a mentor, the primary focus is on your protégés.



• The time commitment of role modeling is simply the life you lead, with everyone free to observe. The time commitment of mentoring is a personal involvement in the lives of a select group of protégés.



• As a role model, you say: "Here's a way to live that you might want to emulate." As a mentor, you say: "Here's a way to live that you might want to emulate...and let me share the details of my journey."

Mentoring is a way to take role modeling to the next level by teaching protégés the details of who you are, how you think, what you've done, and why you have something worth pursuing. In essence, mentoring is one-on-one leadership--a pairing of a less experience person (protégé) with a seasoned master (mentor).

As a protégé, you should become a connoisseur of mentors to shorten your learning curve and accelerate your growth. Look for mentors who are focused on who you are; why you are here; where you are going; what you can do to reach your goals; how you can overcome your setbacks and struggles; and when you'll be able to teach others what you've learned.

Just as a baton must be passed skillfully to win a relay race, mentors pass on wisdom that makes a winning difference in the lives of their protégés. When mentors die, their legacies are perpetuated by protégés who become mentors and pass on these timeless truths.

I'm now mentoring four people--an elementary school child, two businessmen and a fellow speaker. I also meet periodically with five mentors. But I want to tell you about Earl Masters, a memorable master mentor who died on December 6, 1993.

Earl taught me a lot about life and living, but perhaps his legacy is best illustrated with these stirring words from one of his eulogists:

l. He was true to himself (integrity).

2. He was an encourager of others (inspiration).

3. He was a humble servant of God (influence).

4. He lives on after death (immortality).

That's quite a tribute, isn't it? I encourage you to be a protégé and mentor. Let the masters challenge you to be closer to your Creator, more accountable to others, and truer to yourself. Make time to pass on this collective wisdom to a group of protégés and you'll leave a lasting, legitimate legacy.

                              

If you and your organization would like to learn more about mentoring and leadership, please e-mail or call Dick Biggs at (770) 886-3035 for more information.