Kirk Baur works hard in every aspect of his life, but one of the jobs he enjoys is being a mentor to young men. As an Eagle Scout, Kirk Baur appreciated the mentorship available to him and in turn, was asked to become a mentor himself. While Kirk Baur’s mentorship is reserved for young men who’ve earned the distinction of Eagle Scout, he has witnessed firsthand the benefits of mentorship.

Just as it was designed to do, the Boy Scouts build strong leadership skills in young men. However, leadership skills can be developed through any mentorship program. When speaking to colleagues, Kirk Baur is often impressed by how many accredit their own professional success to a strong mentor. Having a mentor builds confidence and reduces anxiety for young professionals looking to develop goals and skills.

Youth benefit from having mentors both in life and in the workplace. Mentors like Kirk Baur can inspire youth by listening to concerns, giving suggestions, and sharing life experiences. Having a mentor is also great for increasing productivity. For Kirk Baur, mentoring also brings back lessons he learned in the past. Old lessons can be revisited and mentors can help mentees focus their talents to address challenges.

Never did Kirk Baur realize how good working as a mentor could feel. Even mentors continue to learn, but mentoring a new generation leaves Kirk Baur feeling good at the end of the day. “Your guidance and experience helps provide direction for someone else. You feel good in the knowledge you may be inspiring or transforming a young person’s life for the better,” says Kirk Baur.

Whether in the work place or with youth, mentor programs have endless possibilities for improving the lives of others. Kirk Baur knows part of being a mentor is to both challenge and encourage the mentee. To be a good mentor, Kirk Baur says you should strive to:

• Listen to your mentee
• Challenge them and create ambition
• Provide guidance and encouragement
• Recognize and harness talents
• Never think you’re done learning

Kirk Baur’s mentorship is focused on young men with the distinction of Eagle Scout, but there are numerous mentorship programs across the country that reach out to young men and women alike. Many of these programs are designed to help at-risk children and young men who lack a positive male role model. No matter the region, state, city, or community, Kirk Baur knows there are children or young professionals who would benefit from a mentor.

For more on being a good mentor, Kirk Baur invites you to read more at:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/johnkotter/2013/01/30/the-often-overlooked-but-invaluable-benefits-of-mentorship/

http://www.forbes.com/sites/ilyapozin/2013/09/25/want-a-more-satisfying-career-become-a-mentor/

http://www.inc.com/rene-siegel/five-reasons-to-be-a-mentor.html

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