Get More Results: Leverage Mentoring And Modelling

6 min readNov 12, 2020

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

There are days when the idea of getting more results seems impractical to us. These are the so-called “bad days”. Days when you wake up tired, unmotivated, and with little hope for the future implications of your business. But we must be careful of one detail: if this lack of confidence in one’s own possibilities becomes a constant condition, a sort of leitmotiv of one’s life, there is something wrong.

Getting more results is always possible, both in terms of quality and quantity, but you probably don’t have a clear idea of the strategies you can use to get them. The good news is that today I want to talk to you about just that.

Mentoring and modelling

Mentoring and modelling are two concepts that are often confused with each other, but in reality, they represent two very different approaches that it is important to learn to distinguish and to exploit in a more specific way. Let’s try to define them together.

When we talk about “modelling”, we refer to a term coined by the Canadian psychologist Albert Bandura in 1969 that concerns indirect learning. According to what Bandura theorized, in fact, the human being learns how to behave in various social contexts through the observation and imitation of one or more models.

“ Mentoring” is a rather different story. The term, in this case, derives from Mentore, or the man to whom, in the Greek epic saga of the Odyssey, Ulysses entrusts his son before leaving for what will be his very long journey. Mentoring means creating a one-to-one relationship, based on extreme trust, between two people who are the mentor (“mentor”) on one side and the person who is guided (“mentee”) on the other.

How to get more results with modelling

As for modelling, over the years, Bandura’s theory has been elaborated over and over again by various scholars. Some have brilliantly thought of creating a more active type of modelling.

Very successful people have been identified and an attempt has been made to outline their profile from all points of view: specific characteristics, habits, psychological and behavioural attitudes… In short, everything that could be useful to understand which traits of their personality may have influenced the success they have achieved.

The idea is that it is possible to achieve greater results by imitating the behaviour and attitude of these great characters. A truly innovative concept, but to be effective, I believe something is missing. First, the purpose.

In fact, when you try to adopt a behaviour that traces as much as possible that of these fabulous minds, you must never forget the fact that everything that distinguishes them originated from a story and a path very likely different from those you have lived.

Their intended purpose and the reason why they were trying to obtain certain results were determined by personal experiences. The emotions they have perceived and the obstacles they have overcome are just as important as everything else.

For you to get more results, it is, therefore, essential that you take these elements into account as a resource and that you adopt them according to your experiences and your life, your psychology and your strengths.

How to get more results with mentoring

With mentoring, we are talking about a very active relationship. The person you choose as your mentor must impart his lessons not only in words but by a concrete example. It doesn’t just have to motivate you, but inspire you. To get better results with mentoring, the key aspect is of course choosing your mentor.

In fact, when choosing, you must pay particular attention to several elements. The mentor must be a person you feel you can count on, in whom you feel you can place total trust, and in whose advice you feel you can firmly believe, whose words are accompanied by facts. Your mentor must have achieved actual results that align with the goals and goals you have in mind to achieve.

If your mentor motivates you but isn’t a source of inspiration, the risk is that the effects of his work won’t have any long-term impact on you. Inspiration, on the other hand, is an exceptional fuel that lasts over time and that can cross the boundaries of the relationship established to lead you beyond your own limits.

Mentoring must know how to take you there: beyond yourself and beyond the possibilities, you feel you have. It must make you feel it is possible to reach any peak you have in mind to climb. But this strength it gives you doesn’t come solely from encouragement and motivation. The effective mentor is the one who allows you to find this strength in you, who teaches you to make the most of it, and independently.

As you will have understood, therefore, to get greater results it is not only important to have any mentor. Having the right mentor can make a huge difference in decreeing the success or failure of your projects.

Getting more results: which strategy to choose?

To get more results, there is no better strategy between mentoring and modelling. It naturally depends on what you plan to do.

Modelling is primarily used to understand and extrapolate information, to understand how others have acted and moved to achieve certain objectives. It can be used as an important confrontation with oneself and to evaluate one’s dynamics with respect to a successful external reference.

Mentoring is an older practise, of course, but it hasn’t lost its relevance in the current context. As I explained to you, however, its effectiveness and validity are fully expressed only if you know how to find the right mentor, able to value you for what makes you unique and special.

It is up to you to opt for what you think will best suit your needs and requirements. As I always like to say, however, don’t waste time. Don’t linger too long, don’t stop. For there to be a change for the better and being able to achieve greater results, it is useless to waver and remain anchored to the usual dynamics. Instead, it is important to take courage and act, to act immediately. Let yourself be guided by what you feel closest to you and take the risk. New experiences can only bring you new stimuli and make you learn more.

In any case, in short, it will be a success.

Get More Results: Leverage Mentoring And Modelling

Mentoring and modelling

How to get more results with modelling

How to get more results with mentoring

Getting more results: which strategy to choose?

Written by Pothigh