Why Mentorship Can Span Beyond A Table

Mentorship often takes place in coffee shops, where an older leader speaks into the life of someone younger.

So many lives have been changed through this approach, including mine. Dave, who I write this newsletter with, was (and is) an older, wiser leader for me. I often sat (and still do sit) down with him at tables after undergrad, asking him questions. He shared his life with me. I was (and still am) deeply encouraged by his guidance in my life. It’s left a lasting mark on me.

But over time, I began to realize something. That one hour with Dave each week or so, as rich as it was, left 167 other hours for me to navigate faith, work, community, finances, the whole gambit, on my own.

I started to question the modern mentorship model, wondering if there might be another way.

I think there may be.

Modern mentorship is not one-dimensional, and it doesn’t have to be limited to a table. Here’s a visual of what came to mind.

Let’s break them down.

This is where the coffee shop model reigns true. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Lives continue to be changed at tables, with an older leader pouring into someone younger.

“Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith” (Hebrews 13:7, NIV).

Who is someone in your life you can imitate and learn from at a table?

"Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do” (Philippians 3:17, NIV).

Paul (the author of the above scripture) encouraged the church of Philippi to watch leaders in their community who lived as he did, imitating Christ.

Paul’s wisdom to the first-century Philippian church is just as relevant today.

His model spans tables and steps into the practice of life.

An example from my own life is this: my first job out of college was at a sales agency that supported suppliers who sold items to major retailers like Walmart and Target. I was on the business development team, reporting to our team leader.

I don’t know exact numbers, but I am willing to bet we discussed typical mentor-to-mentee topics less than 1% of the working hours we shared as boss and subordinate. The other 99% of the time, I had the privilege to just… watch him.

• Watched how he loved his family.

• Watched how he pitched prospects with excellence yet deep integrity.

• Watched him lead team meetings with humility and hospitality, not ego.

• Watched him never miss the opportunity to hold the door open for someone.

Truly, I could go on and on. I will never forget his leadership. And it all came from “keeping my eyes” on him out in the wild, not from sharing a table.

So, I think the lesson is to take note of the older, wiser leaders at work, in church, and in community, and simply observe. If chosen well, the dust they leave on you will yield a greater return on investment than imaginable.

We are in no shortage of content today. There are books and podcasts on just about any topic.

Meaning, if pursued wisely, mentorship is readily available. But without an organized approach, content consumption for the purpose of mentorship can become chaotic and impulsive (option 1).

Steve Blair, a 35-year leader (and previous guest writer), proposes a tailored approach to combat this content consumption chaos. He recommends young leaders:

1. Pick one high-level leader to learn from each quarter (or any timeframe you want).

2. Go all in on their content for a season. Read their books, listen to their podcasts, attend their keynotes, and immerse in their models & frameworks.

That way, you really get to know the thought leader’s expertise, skill, character, and heart, and can take away nuggets from them over time, just as you would with a mentor at a coffee shop (option 2).

Option 1 lives on the surface, sporadically hopping from one leader to another. Option 2 dives deep into the mind and soul of someone you admire, creating a real opportunity to learn.

I haven’t done this well, but I imagine this kind of investment pays off.

Modern mentorship can include but does not have to be limited to a shared table. Therefore, pair planned mentorship time with watching great leaders lead and consuming content strategically.

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As always, let us know how we can help you navigate your world as you navigate the world.

In Your Corner.

See you next Tuesday!