by Guest Blogger Jodi Davidson

As Sodexo's Director of Diversity Initiatives, I consider it a privilege to connect people in our organization through the gift of mentorship. By reading this, I hope to inspire those who may be "on the fence" or wondering what all the "hoopla" regarding mentoring is about. By sharing my personal story, perhaps many will consider the option of mentoring for their personal growth and development. From where I sit there is only one question, "Should I be a Mentor or a Mentee this time around?"

As I transitioned into my current role two years ago, it became clear to me that I needed a firsthand experience as a Mentee. No longer was I to only see myself as the Mentor. It was at that point, that I was feeling some anxiety and starting a habit of working at odd hours of the night. My chosen Mentor quickly realized, even before I did that I was "stressed out" and helped me understand that I really needed to reclaim a portion of my pre-parenting existence, making it a priority to start exercising again.

Fast forward to today...

After sustaining a consistent exercise routine that some might call borderline obsessive, I have lost 35 pounds and several sizes. It's fun to shop again! So after purging my larger wardrobe, there's no looking back, and most nights I sleep like a baby. I thank my first official mentor for "leading me to water" so I could take care of myself as I managed my stress levels. We keep in touch today, even though he is enjoying an active retirement.

As I began to feel better about myself, I was able to see and hear what some caring individuals in senior positions had been telling me all along; that I needed to demonstrate that I was a strategic thinker, to go beyond the "tactics" associated with my job. So, with the help of my current Mentor, I have gained greater strategic focus than in the past and people are noticing.

With all that mentoring going on, one might think that there would be no room for Mentees in my life, but that is the furthest thing from the truth! I treasure the time that I have spent with two wonderful people who call me their Mentor. I credit them for achieving significant personal goals, while helping to ground and put things in perspective for me. Each of the relationships I highlight here are cross-cultural in some way, and I've particularly enjoyed sharing across our differences.

At Sodexo, mentoring is a part of our culture. Mentees and Mentors are enhancing their confidence levels, taking greater risks, and enhancing their productivity. Senior leaders are demonstrating a steadfast commitment to and give freely of their time to serve as Mentors for many in the organization. By doing so, they are clearly building legacies for themselves.

Put simply, mentoring is creating opportunities for individuals to feel connected to one another and to the organization. Ultimately, mentoring is a win-win for everyone!

Courtesy of Sodexo Careers Blog Making every day a better day.