Over the past few years we have heard the terms Mentoring, Mentor and Mentee used often, but there are many questions about what it means to be or to have a Mentor. Let me share with you some of the Myths and Truths surrounding these relationships:
1. Myth – As a mentor I will be asked to be a teacher of all things travel. I just don’t have that kind of time.
Truth – A mentor is an experienced and trusted adviser. A mentor is someone to give guidance to a less experienced agent, not to train or educate. A mentor will usually spend approximately 2-3 hours a month working with their mentee.
2. Myth – If I become a mentor I will be expected to know everything. I just don’t know that I am experienced enough.
Truth – As a mentor you are a resource to help the mentee find answers to their questions and develop their knowledge of the travel industry. No one is expected to know everything in this ever changing & exciting industry. A good travel professional will continue to educate themselves and therefore have the resources available to help others.
3. Myth – I am new to the travel industry and still doing a lot of training courses, I guess I don’t need a mentor or should just wait.
Truth – There is no better time to begin a mentoring program than when you are first starting out and trying to figure everything out. A mentor can talk with you through finding your passion or niche’, share with you their story of success and or failure in specific areas, as well as be a great help during your educational process. (Not as a teacher – but as a helper).
4. Myth – I have been in the industry for a long time and even though I am branching into selling a new product I don’t need a mentor. I can figure it out on my own like I have done in the past.
Truth – But why? Why struggle and waste your valuable time figuring it out if you could have a mentor beside you to guide you along the way? It does not matter how long one has been in the industry, if you are learning something new, having a mentor to talk to can ease the process. A mentor could eliminate the feeling of frustration and wanting to give up.
5. Myth – As an independent contractor who works on commission I just don’t have a lot of extra money to spend and I am sure getting a mentor would be out of my budget.
Truth – A good mentoring program will pay for itself over and over again when you take into consideration how much time you can save by working with an experienced person who is already running a successful business. Also, there are several mentoring programs that are very cost effective or you could even get a scholarship or be comp’d a program through various companies.
For more information on one mentoring program available, please visit Penney’s website.
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Penney Rudicil, ECC, Gadget Girl, President – Travel Agent Success, Inc.
