I look back not just on my multifamily positions that I have held, but all of the positions that have allowed me to grow and I reflect that the 5 characteristics listed below are the ones that are truly the most important in a mentor. Every mentor I have had has these characteristics which have led them to be a wonderful leader which shaped my experience and who I am as a person.

Caring - everyone wants to be cared about

Empathetic - creates an environment where team members feel heard, valued, and understood.

Transparency - we all want to be able to know we are not alone, we can all relate to each other

Inspiring/Motivating - everyone strives to want to do better, and when values are aligned, deep emotional drivers are engaged, we are all motivated

Trustworthy/Respected - creates the stable foundation for employees to be flexible, adaptable, and thrive in times of continuous change.

You may ask, why I choose these 6 traits out of the millions of traits that are options. Ultimately we are all humans, and when it comes to humans connecting with other humans, we are all deeply rooted in emotions. We feel, (at different levels), but nonetheless, we are all connected through our nervous system, which affects our thoughts, memory, learning and feelings. It is human nature.

In addition to managing and motivating people which are great leadership qualities, I believe it's important to remember one can not be an effective leader without being a dedicated mentor. Someone who is a great mentor helps others learn, grow and become more effective in their jobs.