Why Men Should Mentor Others and How It’s Done

It’s no secret that the world is facing a masculinity crisis on a massive scale. Just look at the facts where the evidence is plain to see everywhere. As many as 70 million boys are growing up without fathers or positive male role models in their lives. This lack of positive male role models has serious implications, not just for boys and men, but girls, women, families and societies in general. Men who can see beyond themselves and choose to invest in others are often described as mentors. Mentors are great friends and advisors, able to bring out the best in others by sharing their wisdom, insight, and experience with them. Mentors help others grow personally, professionally, and spiritually by serving as a trusted advisor they can turn to whenever they need it. Read on to learn why men should mentor others and how it’s done effectively.

How to mentor boys and pre-teens

The best mentors to boys and tween boys are other men, not only because they can provide boys with a positive male role model, but also because the right ones may understand the challenges and issues boys face in their daily lives. Even if a mentor does not understand what boys experience today (most likely they don’t), they can still be a mentor.  Mentors can help boys navigate puberty and discover what it means to be a man. Mentors help boys develop self-esteem by teaching them how to build healthy relationships and express their emotions. Mentors can help boys set and achieve goals and find their passions in life. Mentoring should start early, ideally from grade school to high school. Men are often called upon to volunteer as mentors because of their perceived expertise in a particular industry like science, sports, or business. With the growing awareness of the need for more male mentors in schools and communities, it’s easy for men to get involved in mentoring boys. It’s a meaningful investment in boys’ futures.

How to mentor teenage boys

Adolescence is a complex time for boys and their social and emotional development is crucial at this stage. Most boys will start to experience changes in their hormones, which may make them feel like their emotions and impulses are out of their control. It’s important to encourage boys to talk about their feelings and find healthy ways to deal with them. You can mentor teenage boys even if you don’t have any experience. You can start by getting to know them and understanding their struggles. Volunteer to take them on school or church field trips, minister to them while serving on your church youth ministry team, coach them in their school or community sports recreation league, or take them on outdoor adventures (like Boy Scouts) to help them discover their interests and passions in life.

How to mentor young men

The first step in mentoring young men is to understand who they are and what they’re going through. Young men are going through physical, mental, and emotional changes that are inevitable but challenging. During this critical stage in their lives, they need guidance and support, like with holding a steady job, dating, money moves, and how they spend their time. You can be there to help them through this period. As a mentor to young men, you can start by getting to know them. Spend time with them and ask them questions so you can learn about their dreams, fears, and challenges. You can also involve them in activities that allow them to explore their passions and discover new passions through mentoring programs designed for youth. There are many ways to mentor young men. Find out what matters most to them and show them you care. Be a positive role model in their lives. Be open to their struggles and help them find solutions. Most importantly, be patient and consistent with your mentorship. 

How to mentor adult men

As an adult man, you’ve probably built a career, gotten married, and had children, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need mentoring too. As an adult, you might be experiencing work-related challenges or be undergoing major life transitions like divorce, the death of a loved one, or a career change. Fortunately, mentoring can be a helpful tool for working through these challenges. Regardless of your stage in life, you can benefit from mentoring. It’s never too late to be mentored, even if you’ve been mentoring others for many years. There are many ways to find a mentor. Find out if your company or organization has a mentorship program and participate in it. You can also reach out to someone you admire and ask them to be your mentor. Find someone in your church, or a group of men that you’re close with and find someone you trust and seek their counsel. If someone reaches out to you and indicates they want to learn from you how to handle situations, identify this as a mentoring opportunity. Let the person know you’re interested in learning from them and how you can help them. Stay in touch with your mentor. Set up regular time to meet with them and discuss challenges and goals. Let them know you appreciate their time and effort in mentoring you.

Conclusion

Mentoring is about investing in the future. It’s about creating the best possible world we can for the next generation by empowering boys and men to become their best selves. That’s why men should mentor boys, to share experiences, insight and wisdom. To speak truth and help guide the next generation through life challenges. Men who mentor boys are role models who can guide them through the challenges of growing up and inspire them to seize their full potential. Men who mentor boys help them discover their passions and unlock their full potential. Men who mentor boys shape the leaders of tomorrow. They are the architects of the future, and we can’t do it without them.