In Pursuit of Profession: Do you need a mentor?
My job. My career. It’s easy to think of our working lives as something that is yours and yours alone. And while it’s true that you are ultimately the one making the decisions that inevitably come up as you move along the path of your career, there are many people along the way that help influence those decisions. Think about it, you may have decided to stay at a company because you love working for your boss. Or maybe you chose to move along down the road because you didn’t like the people you worked with. Whatever decisions mark the forks in the road that come up along the “choose-your-own adventure” that is the story of our work lives, those decisions are not made in a vacuum. Other people have influenced those decisions. And often times, those people were, or could have been, our mentors.
Yes, we all need mentors
It has been said that it takes a village to raise a child. Well, Career Coach Katherine Nobles, founder of Katherine Nobles Career Coaching, says that it also takes more than one person to ensure the success of any one individual career. “While many of us think that we can move swiftly through our careers without help from others, the truth of the matter is that it becomes a much easier (and enjoyable) process when we don’t go it alone,” Nobles said. “Having a mentor is a huge asset, as mentors can provide unbiased career advice, guide us through next steps in our professional development, and share their personal experience and expertise as someone who has “been there, done that.” Mentors can also help us clearly assess our own strengths and weaknesses, pinpointing our blind spots and areas for growth. With the help of a mentor, people can more easily define and reach their goals.”
If you haven’t got a clue about how to find a mentor, Nobles suggests that you conduct the following research first. “Before you begin the search for a mentor, it helps to ask yourself what are you looking for in a mentor? What are you hoping to get out of the relationship? What can you bring to the table?” said Nobles.
Once you get answers to these questions, then the obvious place to look for a mentor is in your workplace. But what if you work remotely, or work for yourself, or aren’t comfortable asking anyone in your office to be your mentor? Don’t worry, you’ve got other choices. “Both within the company you work for or outside of the organization are good places to seek a mentor. Within your company, seek out people who do not have a supervisory role over you, but are in positions that you aspire to down the road. Outside of your organization, professional associations or networking groups are great places to meet potential mentors. In both environments, consider people who share your values and interests. Think about individuals you admire and respect,” Nobles said.
As a “mentee,” many people often feel like they are just there to receive instruction, advice and counseling from their mentor. But, like any relationship, the mentee-mentor relationship has got to be a two way street in order for it to be successful. “A good mentor-mentee relationship should be a reciprocal relationship with a bit of give and take between both parties,” said Nobles. “While mentors provide valuable insight and advice, mentees should consider what they can bring to the table as well. For example, mentees can often provide a fresh perspective, send articles or resources, or share their own technological skills or knowledge about a specific topic that the mentor could use help with.” She also suggests that there be a time commitment formally laid out between the two parties, with regular meetings conducted on a consistent basis.
Should you be a mentor?
What if you had a little Obi-Wan Kenobi in you and wanted to share your experience and expertise with someone coming up through the ranks? Fear not, old Jedi, for Nobles has that concern covered as well. “Professional associations are a great place to offer services to those seeking a mentor, as many associations have established mentorship programs for first-time conference attendees or young professionals. Technology and apps have certainly made this easier as well, as people can connect with mentees through sites like Everwise and Mentoring.org,” Nobles said.
And if you believe that doing good for others means that you’re doing good for yourself, then you’ll like the other benefits of becoming a mentor. “Being a mentor is a great opportunity to boost your skillset, particularly when it comes to interpersonal and leadership skills. You have an opportunity to provide meaningful feedback, ask powerful questions, and listen to the voice of a younger generation in your industry. In doing so, you will likely walk away with a stronger sense of empathy and emotional intelligence as you lead or manage in your own career,” said Nobles. “If your mentorship was a part of a formalized program, this experience could certainly be added to your resume to showcase not only these aforementioned skills, but also the extra time and commitment you’ve put in to help grow and develop emerging professionals within your field.”
Career Coach Katherine Nobles provides customized one-on-one career coaching and professional development workshops to emerging professionals who are stuck or at a crossroads in their career development by helping them find their fit, make their move, and excel at work. She works with clients over phone and virtually (Skype/Google Hangout). Read more about her services and sign up to get email updates, including information about upcoming workshops and webinars at katherinenobles.com.
This story was originally published May 26, 2016 at 2:00 PM with the headline "In Pursuit of Profession: Do you need a mentor?."