Just one conversation can change or shape someone's life...why mentoring matters

I decided I wanted a career in HR when I was 15 years old (photo is 15 year old me). Knowing definitively what you want to do for the rest of your life at 15 is unusual, let alone knowing that you want a career specifically in HR. Thirty-two years on, I am still loving my profession and still learning every day.

How did I come to a decision so young with such certainty? It took just one conversation to inspire me. That conversation was with my Dad, Steve. At the age of 15, before making the pivotal decision of choosing my GCSE options, my Dad sat me down and said ‘what do you want to do with the rest of your life?’

That is a big question for a 15 year old girl who is preoccupied with all the things that come with being a teenager. I had the added complication that two years earlier, my Mum had left our family home and went to live with a man who would physically and emotionally abuse her until her death 10 years later. Throughout my teens, I had the added drama of rescuing her from her abuser, to watch her go back every time. In some ways, her circumstances gave me some resolve to never allow myself to be in her situation and as a teenager, I equated that to financial independence (I know it is much more complex than that now) and for that I needed a career but doing what?

I never thought I had the academic ability to be a Lawyer or Doctor (a good example of limiting beliefs) but I was interested in business I just didn't know enough about it. Dad was a single parent with a demanding job at Greggs and during our conversation about my future, he talked me through each department in Greggs and when he talked about Personnel and Training, it piqued my interest. I don’t know what it was that captured my interest, but it did. So I off I went, did my research and the decision was made.

It took one person, who cared enough about my future to have one conversation to shape the course of my life.

Now, I know it doesn’t play out like that for everyone but it does show what one conversation can do when you are prepared to care about the future fortunes of another person and share your experience and knowledge.

Along with other like-minded businesses in the North East we launched a programme called The Power of 5. We provided work experience in 5 different companies, in 5 different sectors in 5 days to young women who were heading into their GCSE options decisions. I know for a fact that some of the conversations those girls had through the programme, fundamentally changed their aspirations.

One of our Power of 5 graduates had a conversation with a Digital Degree Apprentice and she told me she had written off ever attaining a degree because she could not afford University. By talking to one person willing to give up 1 hour of her time, our P5 grad realised that she could attain what she thought was unattainable. That conversation has changed her life. That focus and determination she has now means she goes to school every day – something she didn’t do previously.

That is what mentoring is for me.

When you mentor someone, you invest in their future. When you mentor someone, you show care about their future. When you mentor someone, you help shape their future.

Mentoring is as simple as giving some of your time and sharing some of things you have collected along the way…knowledge, experience, expertise, relationships, hard knocks, highs and lows. If you think you haven’t got anything to offer as a mentor, think again. The brilliant thing about being human is that we all have a story to share. We have all acquired wisdom along the way. We have all got experiences that will inspire, influence and guide. All we need to do is care enough about the future of others and share.