Mentorship is more relevant today: Ali Merchant, Founder and CEO, AM Infoweb
3 min read . Updated: 03 Dec 2020, 04:37 PM IST_1606993471174_1606993482925.jpg "Ali Merchant, Founder and CEO of AM Infoweb")
PremiumWith the ongoing digital transformations across sectors and the pandemic situation, the relevance of effective mentorship has elevated, says Ali Merchant, Founder and CEO of AM Infoweb.
We are all familiar with the Health Information Management Outsourcing tycoon Ali Merchant and his inclination towards sharing sustainable career growth insights. He is not just a multi-millionaire CEO but also a philanthropist and life coach. And it is not uncommon for many of us to wonder what motivates a personality like Mr. Merchant to contribute his valuable time in sharing his advice to help professionals and leaders improve their quality of life.
He says, “Having gone through the grind myself, I understand the hardships faced by others who may be in the same place that I was in sometime back. There’s a sense of empathy I feel especially towards hardworking people who deserve to achieve their goals but get disillusioned sometimes by circumstances or sidetracked over the course of their struggles. If my experience can be of any help in reshaping their approach and can provide a certain sense of direction, I feel like I’m doing my bit to make their dreams come true."
Can a mentor make a difference?
Ali Merchant believes in the concept of mentorship and asserts it’s the only resort when confronted with a serious mental dilemma – personal and professional. For example, when asked to rate the idea of mentorship programs, he had this to say, “I don’t think you can randomly rate the idea of coaching or mentoring. It’s like asking a person standing on a beach to explain the significance of a random log floating on the surface in the distance. He may have nothing to say about it. Conversely, ask a person who was saved from drowning by grabbing onto the same log for his life. It’s as simple as that. Anyone who has faced a situation that called for some form of counseling or you can call it coaching or mentoring and benefitted from it would give a straight 10 while those who have never experienced the same may give a 0. So, what I intend to say is that mentorship cannot be under or overrated. It has its place and value. And, frankly, we all need that little push at some point in time. Some need it sooner than others." Now that was thoroughly enlightening and impressive!
Sharing the recipe for success
Not everyone is comfortable sharing the recipe for their success. Popular dishes always have a secret recipe or secret ingredient that gives them an edge over the competitor’s recipe. So, when asked about harboring any such fear, Mr. Merchant smilingly clarified, “My insights are free of cost for everyone. So, it can benefit my competitors too. I am well aware of that and I don’t mind. What I do is with an open mind and with the aim of bettering not just businesses but also people. So, I have a more people-oriented approach which eventually drives performance. And having stiff competition keeps me on my toes and consequently my organization. I am always exploring new avenues to improvise my work processes to expedite productivity and setup newer initiatives to motivate my people to that end. Competition necessitates constant evaluation to improve, which leads to brainstorming followed by creative ideas and experimentation, which again leads to innovation and eventually progress. It’s an entire cycle as you can see. So I am happy to share my knowledge and insights with everyone."
Common issues faced by people
Ali Merchant has clearly aced the spirit of giving. On that note, we delved further to know about what in his mentoring experience are the most common issues faced by leaders and executives alike. He revealed, “We are functioning in a truly unpredictable environment. With the ongoing digital transformations and especially the pandemic situation, the relevance of effective mentorship has elevated. Professionals, irrespective of their positions are in a constant state of stress owing to the uncertainty of the job situation, fear of plummeting need for certain expertise in the face of digitalization, salary cuts, and most significantly, the blurring lines between home-life and work-life owing to a work-from-home situation. People are more actively seeking out suitable mentors and organizations are also initiating mentorship programs in the wake of such volatility. One of the solutions I see to all the said problems is unbiased and effective guidance to provide clearer direction in work and life."
Ali Merchant has stood by his principles and set a blazing trail of inspiration for many. It’s our heartfelt wish that he continues to mentor people through his invaluable insightful stories and wisdom. Know More: www.alimerchant.me
Disclaimer: This is a company press release. No HT journalist is involved in creation of this content.
