The Relevance Of Mentoring - Prof Shantanu Prasad

The Relevance of ‘Mentoring’
For Management students

By Shantanu Prasad, Faculty member,
Omegan School of Business, Pune campus

The very first day of the college-the induction day, is one of the most exciting days for management students. Excitement regarding the knowledge, course curriculum, Faculty members, friends and above all the ambience which they feel, and is fact also, is unique and different from the environment in which they had been brought up till graduation. Till this time students who fetch good marks in their exams are in good books of teachers and are respected in class while average or below average students are ignored sometimes.

In post-graduate management course, the expectation from students increases many fold. They are supposed to not only score good marks but also exhibit pragmatic approach, problem-solving skills and attitude, knowledge update on current affairs, corporate etiquettes and propriety. These things sometimes disturb, deviate and discourage them though the management course system is designed in such a manner that it pulls the student to inculcate all such professional skills and pass, considering all the parameters, with flying colors.

Mentoring of each student is indispensable for the right output. In mentoring, the mentor and the mentee enjoy the relationship where there is secrecy. May be sometimes some students do not express their views and feelings in public. But they may reveal their problems to the mentor and hence the mentor can help them to solve their not only professional difficulties but also personal problems which are sometimes impediments to the growth and learning process of students. The discussion between a mentor and a mentee remains exclusive and secret in true spirit and in good faith. This is the true beauty of relationship between them. Needless to say how good it is if the mentor is a teacher of the student because a true teacher always understands and feels the problems of students. Anyway, it also depends on the students, with whom they really feel comfortable, enlightened, to whom they really feel like respecting as a mentor. Such feelings come from within.

A mentor always helps to lead not only a successful professional career but also a successful personal life.