How to Mentor a Younger Man

To find more topics and series like this, start here. To learn how to use our tools for mentoring, train here.

Young men today have never needed more guidance and attention. These days, young guys are bombarded with conflicting messages about who they are supposed to be as men and as people. With all that pressure being laid on their shoulders, the need for positive role models has never been greater. Young men need and want an older man to mentor them and show them what it means to be a man.

[Related: Men and the Power of the Visual]

Young Men Want a Mentor

Growing up to be a good man tough, especially with all the distractions of social media and the pressures of our current culture. Older men can serve a pivotal role for the younger generation, and all it requires is some time. Investing in the life of a younger man can help them avoid pitfalls and provide the foundation of confidence and guidance they need.

[Related: Do the Right Thing as a Man]

How to Start

There are several avenues to positively impacting the life of a young man. Most people know someone who could use guidance. Think about guys you know from a sports team, or maybe even friends of your kids who don’t have strong male role models. It is important to initiate these relationships with confidence. Young men will respond to a confident and capable leader who approaches them with their best interests at heart.

Have a Plan

Creating a mentorship plan can be intimidating, but it’s not as hard as one might think. A simple and flexible meeting schedule is the best option when planning out time to spend mentoring. A plan can be as simple as coffee a few times a week or a few times a month. There is even a 101 series for men here at FLEXTALK.org.

Reach Out

While young men crave a father figure, they are also busy and distracted. It means the world to a young person to have someone contact them weekly to simply ask how they are. Contact can be easy and casual, with a simple phone call or text letting the youth know they have someone if they need them.

[Related: A Man’s Honor Code]

The base idea of mentorship is to produce another mentor. Don’t just invest in one young person and expect to keep doing the same thing for years. Build up an individual to the point at which they can be a mentor themselves. Mentors train and empower young people so they can go do it again, creating a branching effect of positive change.