Three Essential Mentoring Relationships

My reality check taught me this: intergenerational teams are essential today; but every member needs to feel valued for the team to flourish.

Every member needs to feel valued for the team to flourish.

On a thriving intergenerational team, it’s not just the senior team members mentoring those younger than them. Your successful team will display all three essential mentoring relationships in action:

• Wise Guides

• Side Guides

• Surprise Guides

Fostering each of these relationships in your organizational culture isn’t just a great way to maximize your team’s efficiency and flourishing. Examples of each can be found throughout the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures. The Apostle Paul highlights the importance of all three throughout his ministry.

1. Wise Guides

Paul is an excellent role model for the intentional Wise Guide. Knowing the gifts of wisdom and leadership God bestowed on him (1 Cor. 2), Paul mentored the churches he visited by writing to them. His letters are just as relevant for us today. He encouraged, admonished, and thoroughly educated as needed. 

Intentionality is a vital part of being a Wise Guide.

If you’re a team member who is older, more experienced, or who has been with your organization for a while, you are a Wise Guide whether you set out to be one or not. We are called to set an example for those younger than us (Titus 2:7) – a call we need to take seriously on our teams.

2. Side Guides

The Apostle Paul knew the importance of Side Guides. Though God gave him inspiration and power individually, he continually surrounded himself with those he could rely on and learn new things from. He didn’t use his significant Jewish pedigree to scorn help but humbled himself to see the value of others.

Barnabas showed him the ways of the Christian Church. Silas encouraged him and endured with him. Luke was dear and loyal to him, authoring Scripture alongside him.

The wisest man who ever lived wrote: “Two are better than one…If either of them falls down, one can help the other up” (Ecc. 4:9-10).

Research refers to these as “peer mentors.” Studies overwhelmingly demonstrate the most effective way to train a new team member is to assign a peer mentor to work alongside them. The intentional peer support heightens the team’s spirit of belonging and collaboration and exponentially accelerates learning and development for each new team member.

3. Surprise Guides 

The third type of mentoring relationship, the Surprise Guide, is highlighted in one of my favorite Scriptural narratives. As a Wise Guide, Paul mentors Timothy – pastor of one of the world’s first mega-churches in Ephesus.

Timothy was a young leader in a culture that valued eldership.

Paul writes to Timothy: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” (1 Tim. 4:12)

Timothy was a young leader in a culture that valued eldership. Yet, Paul encourages him to make a difference. His own personal experiences, education, and God-given gifts made him a valuable member of his community, one who could teach and advise even his elders.

Intergenerational teams need to nurture and encourage Surprise Guides.

In the research, these are often called “reverse mentors.” If you’re a senior team member, the key is: listen carefully. Junior mentors bring rich, fresh perspectives to our teams, along with experiences and expertise – and surprises! When we’re willing and open to learn from them, they are often willing to learn from us too.

Consider Your Own Mentoring

Take a moment to consider where you can see these three mentoring relationships – or opportunities for them – in your own life and work.

• Who are your Wise, Side, and Surprise Guides?

• Who can you be a Wise, Side, or Surprise Guide to?

Mentoring matters because people matter. While valued as a professional development tool, mentoring improves the quality of team life for mentors and mentees alike.

###

Dr. Teresa M. Moon is President and CEO for the Institute for Cultural Communicators, helping Christians get ready to speak. She works with intergenerational and multicultural teams, empowering them for real influence in 20+ countries. Teresa is an internationally recognized speaker, author, and leadership coach. Get in touch at teresamoon.org.

 Learn more about Outcomes magazine.