Featured in the LIT (Ladies in Tech) Newsletter
The idea of having a mentor isn’t new. However, not everyone takes advantage of mentorship. Mentors can help with a variety of situations, not all of which are business-related. Some mentors do a stellar job for certain individuals but may not hit the mark for others. Finding a mentor isn’t a once-and-done exercise for most, as people’s needs for mentorship change. But how does one go about finding a mentor?
First and foremost, look in the mirror. Set your expectations for the immediate and long-term future. What do you need from a mentor? What are your goals? Where do you want to go? Are your goals something a single mentor can help you with, or would you do better with a few? What duration will suit your needs? These questions will help provide guidance. After all, how do you ask someone for their time and expertise if you don’t know what you need?
Conversely, sometimes you don’t know what you don’t know. At other times, your needs may outgrow your mentor. Start with a statement of need, if you will. “I need a mentor to…” Once you figure out what you are after, it is easier to find a mentor. You can have multiple mentors for multiple tasks and at various times throughout your career. Asking for help can be the brightest career move you can make.
The qualities you seek in mentorship(s) will depend on your focus. A mentor will help with tasks but also can help see things from a different perspective. You may pick a mentor to help you understand and work your way into management. Someone else may want a mentor to help with sales or accounting. Others may wish to find mentors for both. Figure out where you are uncomfortable. One way to help is to look at job descriptions for the jobs you aspire to hold. Talk to some folks in those jobs. What tasks are expected in that position? Which looks foreign to you? If that task was on your plate, could you take it on, or would you have to outsource the work? Before you find a mentor, do some due diligence and determine what tasks and knowledge work towards your goals.
Look around your church, neighborhood, and networking and work contacts. Look at incubators and professional growth groups. What type of mentor do you want? Do you want a friend? Some people prefer a “non-friend” mentor and a more formal program. If you think about it, you can always ask your friends. However, your friends may not provide a different viewpoint or the “tough love” that gets you to the next level.
Sometimes, companies offer mentorship programs as part of their employee benefits program. While these benefit the company and employees, some prefer to garner mentorship outside of a company’s walls. Many people grow into management through mentorship that turns into sponsorship within a company’s walls.
Professional organizations can be fantastic places to find formal and informal mentors. Peer review and input can be invaluable, even if they come from a competitor.
While one may quickly think a mentor inside your company is the way to go, if your long-term goals don’t include working for that company or you would instead not share your goals and insecurities with someone you don’t know inside the company, external mentors may be the way to go. Seek those in and around the position you aspire to hold. If you want to grow into management, speak to managers. Talk to high earners if you want to be the best at your sales game. Tips can come from anywhere. All tips that help you are mini mentorships. Not all mentorships are formal.
Be an active participant for your best success. Don’t expect your mentor to read your mind. If your goals change, convey those changes. If you don’t feel like the mentorship is working for you, be confident enough to express your feelings so you can change to more fitting topics. If it doesn’t work for you, give your mentor their time. If you have assignments, complete them or communicate that you won’t be on time. The habits, traits, and work ethics you show during mentorship help your mentor pick areas of focus for improvement in the future. Give your mentee duties the same time and diligence you give your position. Some of your mentor’s suggestions may prove beneficial, even when off-topic. The nice thing is that you can learn from your mistakes. You can understand what you don’t know. Mentorship learning is generally outside of your job performance and performance reviews. You can fail up comfortably and with purpose. You can grow through the challenges. Most of all, you can learn a lot about yourself.
For the best success, never be afraid to ask. Ask a lot. Seek advice and opinions from others. You may not always agree with that opinion, but it helps to know how others think. You won’t always agree, but you should listen. Even advice from people you wouldn’t usually take advice from can be helpful.
As this newsletter moves forward, we are starting a feature. This mentorship corner will be full of advice from women in the industry. Send any questions to Carrie Goetz or Laura Noland, and we will get some fantastic women to provide insight. You will find it right here in this mentorship corner.
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