Mentoring through the Ages

The concept of mentoring was first documented in Greek mythology, in Homer’s tale of Odysseus. Odysseus entrusted his son, Telemachus, to his trusted counselor, Mentor, when he set out on his odyssey. The old man, Mentor, became the surrogate father, guardian, and teacher of Telemachus, the young mentee. Thus, the description of a mentor is a role model or leader who is willing to nurture the growth and development of an individual with less experience by sharing knowledge and insights that have been learned through experience.

Figure 1. Continuous Professional Development Formula

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