Nothing saves more money for your organization than well-qualified, efficient staff members who do their job well. And there may be no better way to ensure efficiency and excellence in your meeting staff than to be a good mentor to them. Many people come into the meetings industry by accident or from various backgrounds, and dedicated mentors can make a difference in their success. Those who excel most often are those who have had experienced mentors to train and foster them.

But how do you become a great mentor? Try starting with the following tips, recommended by Bob Rosner, "Working Wounded" columnist for Canada's www.workopolis.com.

1. Take time to get to know your protege. Rather than spending all your time telling your mentor stories from your own life and experiences, focus on their life, their experiences, and their goals. Feel free to tell a few tales of your own, but your relationship will be more productive if it's mostly about the "mentee" rather than the mentor. "Get to know what they value, where they'd like to go, and what struggles they're currently having," Rosen says.
2. Take the time to learn how to teach effectively. Think about the most effective teachers and bosses you?ve had in your lifetime, and try to model their methods. Read books or glean ideas from people in the training department or other managers who are known as effective mentors. Be patient. As an experienced meeting professional, some of the steps along the path to success may seem like no-brainers for you. Remember that your "mentee" is a unique person with his or her own personality and goals, and it may take him or her longer to make decisions or take steps that you would have done more quickly. Give your "mentee" time to figure out his or her own steps; the objective isn?t to reach your goals, but to reach your "mentee's" own goals.
3. Celebrate each victory. While your role as a mentor may sometimes involve talking about tough subjects and offering unwelcome advice, it's important to keep the experience positive. One way to do this is to make every small victory a cause for celebration.