Identity-Based vs. Skill-Based Mentoring
“Just like a good tool doesn’t make you a handy man. Knowing skills alone doesn’t fulfill your mentee’s potential”
Skill-based mentoring usually goes like this:
Think of things you think your mentee should know
Shake a hand, tie a tie, resume, etc…
Teach them these things
Hope they use them to reach their full-potential
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Skill-based mentoring is good, but I believe it is secondary to Identity-based mentoring
Skills are no good if you’re mentee believes:
- They lack intelligence or can't succeed
- They will never amount to anything
- They lack confidence, hope or have no self-value
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Let’s start with identity-based mentoring first.
- Help them see themselves how God sees them.
- Encourage, build up, & champion your mentee
- Be the most encouraging person in the world
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When they believe this, they will have intrinsic motivation to learn the skills. They will be hungry to become all that they can be because they believe in themselves and have someone believing in them.
Now that they believe they have worth and are capable of success, introduce the skills.
First identity. Then skills.
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