Why I enjoy being a mentor

By Amanda Coleman
14 January 2025

Throughout my working life I have been able to benefit from having a mentor who was someone to talk things through with without judgement being made.  It was what drove me to put myself forward to be a mentor as part of the CIPR scheme. 

Being able to speak to someone who you don’t know and who has nothing to gain or lose in the discussion is really beneficial.  It gives a safe space to think through work issues, career issues and knotty problems. 

I have been lucky enough to be mentored by a range of people, including serving police officers.  The key is finding the right person at the right time for you.  I always start with a ‘getting to know each other’ chat to see if I am the right person.  I take no offence if I am not.

With the mentoring relationships I have had, it is important for the mentee to know what they hope to gain from the conversations.  This may change over time, but it is essential to know what drove you to seek a mentor.  For some it may be feeling stuck, wanting a new challenge, new career or a life change.  The mentoring needs to last as long as it benefits the mentee, in my view.  I still speak to some people I have been mentoring for a couple of years.  We speak occasionally but I see it is an ongoing commitment. 

As a mentor I feel I have gained a huge amount in meeting people and learning more about them, their careers and their ambitions.  I have been through some challenging times in my life and if the experiences I have had can benefit others, then it is a positive outcome.