With the weekend coming up and the great anticipation of X Factor in the air (if you watch it) it got me thinking about mentoring on the programme.

My question: is Simon Cowell a great mentor? And does he have the qualities of a good mentor? Well let’s see.

He is straight talking:
Whether you like Simon or not, he says what is on his mind and is upfront which is admirable. In a mentor this quality is important, as mentee’s usually need to hear the truth and fast!
It is good to have patience and carry them to where they need to be and the relationship needs to be developed and the timing right to share home truths etc. but a mentor should be able to share the truth, which Simon does.

He is perceptive:
You have to give it to him, he knows his stuff and is very perceptive.
This quality is needed in a mentor as a mentee sometimes can’t see the wood from the trees so a mentor who is able to show the mentee what they can’t see in a blind spot is needed.

He is a good communicator:
Running a global empire like Simon does, he is no-ones fool and would be a smart button plus good communicator.

Whether talking to execs, production people, lawyers or artists he would have a broad set of skills. This is valuable in a mentor, as you need to mediate, facilitate, broker and explain things. So a good mentor would need this quality.

He is humorous:
Simon is known to be harsh and unkind which is sometimes boldness being misunderstood and other times down crushing and uncalled for, however Simon is who he is.
On the flip side Simon is known to have a laugh or two (sometimes at someone else’s expense). This is needed in mentoring as humour can break the ice and soften the heart.

He can see potential:
Simons has an eye and ear for talent and he has managed to unearth some big acts, whether you like them or not. 1D (One Direction) is a prime example as well as Susan Boyle.
As a mentor this is key because sometimes you can see potential in a person others have written off and you are able to bring more out of them. So a good mentor would have this ability.

Conclusion:
Like him or loath him but one must respect him. Simon Cowell is a business magnate, global leader and also a good mentor.

Happy mentoring

Image: Wikipedia