Mentoring the Future

Human beings are interdependent. The journey from the womb to the tomb is threefold; it's one of dependence, independence, and interdependence. The threefold path is a complex, interwoven tapestry that requires skillful navigation and a tour guide from the beginning to the end. The wise seek the advice of those who have gone before and successfully negotiated its contours.

To attempt to travel alone, without the aid and counsel of more experienced and knowledgeable ones, is neither prudent nor pragmatic.

Unlike the lower animals, which require less nurturing before weaning and becoming independent, humans take a relatively long period to reach physical and mental maturity. Indeed, what is interesting is that some animals can protect and fend for themselves in matters of days after birth, contrary to human beings who require years. This period is primarily a time of dependence and interdependence. During this phase, the human mind is trained to think, communicate, and respond to instructions. It's also during this period that we learn to understand the importance of relationships and the need to be interdependent. We recognize that no one person has all the answers but that when we cooperate, the greater the productivity, the more we achieve.

The socialization process is the genesis of mentoring since it's during these early and formative years that we learn not only to follow instructions but to emulate the examples of senior members of the family. Notice the first few years are thought of as the formative years because it's the most impressionable period of human life. Mentoring is critical during this time since the individual is in search of identity and is contending with rapid changes from both within and without. Having the aid of a wise and understanding counselor can be of great help during childhood through adolescence. Parents usually play this role. However, research has shown that the presence of other influential adults can be very useful now.

In later years, the role of mentors may change, but the need for relationship and connection are critical to success in any future successful partnership, be it business, politics, family affairs, or any other social-cultural endeavors. Mentoring is largely about relationships and connections to the right people and places. Some of the most successful businessmen have benefited tremendously from mentoring. Richard Branson said, "If you ask any successful business person, they will always [say they] have had a great mentor at some point along the road." Three of the world's wealthiest men-Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg-have all been mentored.

Mentoring is a powerful tool for social engineering. However, the wisdom and benefits of employing it as a strategy for perpetuating a culture of excellence and preserving the integrity and heritage of any group, organization, and entity are yet to be envisioned by many, including leaders at every level and in every sphere of society.
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