Mentoring Tips
Listen beyond words. Your student is always telling you something, whether or not they are talking. Listen beyond their words to what is easy for them to talk about, and what is hard. What subjects do they avoid or embrace? What is their body language saying as you begin to learn about different aspects of their lives?
Don’t be afraid of questions. Obviously, building trust takes time. But genuine interest goes a long way. Overall, students love to be discovered. And oftentimes, they readily answer the questions that we are afraid to ask. As they begin to tell you about their lives, continue to ask questions that take the conversation from talking about an event to talking about their hearts.
Enjoy it. God invited you to be on the mission of developing a student. The hard work is worth it. And any time we’re on one of God’s missions we get to live with the potential of what He can do, instead of what we can do. Enjoy the adventure!
About the Author
Doug Franklin
Doug Franklin is the president of LeaderTreks, an innovative leadership development organization focusing on students and youth workers. Doug and his wife, Angie, live in West Chicago, Illinois. They don’t have any kids, but they have 2 dogs that think they are children. Diesel and Penelope are Weimaraners who never leave their side. Doug grew up in… Read More
