Being a mentor, it is one of the greatest privileges one can have in life. As a mentor who is a generation older than the group of people known as Millennials we must seek to understand Millennials and how we can best reach them as a mentor.
You might be wondering, “What is a millennial anyway?” The term millennial was coined in 1991 by Neil Howe and William Strauss. According to an article on Forbes.com, Howe and Strauss, introduced the phrase in their book “Generations” which charts American history through a series of cohort biographies. The pair demonstrated a predictable cycle where generational personalities form in opposition to their immediate predecessors but share significant traits with groups they may never meet. People born between around 1980 and 2000, for example, shares many traits with the group born from around 1900 to the mid-1920s.
Because many times the generations that come after us are not quite as easy to understand we must seek to find ways to connect with them and help them, such as mentoring.
4 Simple ways that you can reach a millennial as their mentor include:
Begin a lasting relationship by meeting for conversation one hour a week one-on-one. Being a mentor to a millennial doesn’t have to be complicated. After all being a mentor isn’t difficult, above all else it involves investing your time in someone else. It speaks volumes when you are willing to stop what you are doing and spend time with someone. (Matthew 25)
Spend time listening, hearing and encouraging. Many millennials are often misunderstood, why? Simply because people do not take the time listen to them, actually hear them and provide encouragement and understanding. This is what a millennial could benefit from the most. (James 1:19, 1 Thessalonians 5:11)
Come to each meeting without an agenda and just be Jesus with skin on. The simple act of being there can speak volumes and can impact a millennials life more than forcing your own agenda upon them. It is more important to be a physical presence of Jesus in their lives.
Follow up and show that you care and are praying for them. Being a mentor takes time and effort. Showing that you care and spending time in prayer are two valuable ways that you can make a difference in the life of a person that you are mentoring. (Galatians 6:9)
[easy-tweet tweet=”Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction. John Crosby” user=”@JaymeHull” hashtags=”#mentor #quote #Millennial”]Click here to read more on how to soar with a mentor. Mentor
“In the same way that iron sharpens iron, a person sharpens the character of his friend. ” Proverbs 27:17
As you can see, reaching a millennial isn’t impossible, above all it takes time. Will you take the time to reach out to a millennial in your life today?
