The Importance of Mentorship

Have you ever had a mentor? Thought about finding a mentor? This is a hot topic today and something that everyone should think about.

First off, what is a mentor? In short, a mentor is an experienced and trusted adviser. This should be a person who has nothing to gain from helping you, other than the satisfaction that comes from mentoring.

When seeking a mentor, especially a professional mentor, it is often best to search outside of your place of employment. This is not always true in large companies, as you can often identify a mentor who does not work or interact with you. Either way, choose someone you trust and admire and who is willing to invest in your journey toward success.

If you choose to find a mentor and become their mentee, you will get what you put into it out of the relationship. You will be responsible for the following:

• Developing goals and objectives for meetings.
• Scheduling the cadence of communications (i.e., in-person meetings, emails, phone calls, etc.) with your mentor.
• Attending or responding to communications.
• Other agreed-upon next steps or follow-up items.

On the flip side, becoming a mentor is a genuinely satisfying and rewarding experience. Taking on a mentorship role can help you develop your leadership skills and enable you to be of maximum service to your mentees.

The objective is for you to help the person you’re mentoring—often referred to as the mentee—achieve their aspirations and goals. While the relationship can be informal or formal, it’s always considered professional. The ground rules can change over time as both people develop and grow. A mentor can provide value to a mentee by:

• Sharing knowledge and life experiences.
• Offering encouragement and inspiration.
• Listening when needed and providing guidance or advice when asked.
• Helping the mentee set goals and explore different career paths.
• Reviewing the mentee’s resume and helping them prepare for interviews.
• Helping the mentee develop their own leadership skills.
• Suggesting new opportunities for the mentee to take on to advance their skills.

Mentor relationships can last anywhere from a one-time session through the lifetime of your career. Some mentors help people in the workplace with various issues, such as pursuing promotions, taking on new responsibilities, and developing interpersonal relationships.

Since we are wrapping up a year, now is a good time to plan and set goals. Consider a mentoring relationship for the coming year to launch you toward your goals.