Mentoring

Early in my career at Telelogic (Now an IBM Company) , I had to choose between two future career paths. An unexpected conversation with my mentor( who is still my Mentor )  helped me imagine the future I wanted for myself and make the right choice.

That day I realized no matter where you are at this point in your life, either personally or professionally, it’s safe to assume that somewhere along the way, you have had some help. At some point during your journey, you were given guidance, encouragement and support. It may have been from a manager, a co-worker, a parent, a teacher, a family member or a friend. Mentors can play a significant role in every aspect of your life. I’d even go so far as to say, you would not be as successful without a mentor! 

I know all of you must be thinking what’s a big deal in this we all know. That’s the irony after knowing about Mentorship also most of us don’t have any mentors specially in our professional life. Might be because we thing we don’t need one or because we are flying high in our EGO ! . But believe me having a mentor can elevate your professional capabilities exponentially. Just try …!

And—added bonus—mentors are amazing people they will change your life . When you take the time to develop a strong mentorship relationship, you get access to a wealth of knowledge and experience, but you also end up with a lifelong friend and potential future business partner. In short, there’s no downside. And I should say that I am fortunate to have one .

Its very unfortunate that in our corporate career we are not told about it in most of the companies. It was when I started working in Microsoft, I was officially introduced with Mentorship. Of course, if you aren’t familiar with the concept, you may have questions about how it all works.  I will try my best to offer some insights on it .

What Exactly Is a Mentor?

A mentor is a more experienced professional in your field who offers you career guidance, advice and assistance from a real world point-of-view. Pretty simple, huh?

Why Should we Bother?

As I said earlier, mentorship offers a host of amazing benefits. A good mentor is wise and willing to share his or her knowledge and experiences in order to help you succeed. It’s like having a wonderful trusted ally to go to whenever you’re feeling unsure or in need of support. They can help you set and achieve career goals, make smart business decisions, overcome workplace challenges, learn new skills or simply offer an outside perspective when you’re facing frustrations at work or in personal life . The benefits are truly endless believe me ENDLESS !

When Should We Get a Mentor?

Mentors are helpful regardless of where you are in your career. Whether you’re fresh out of college or a few years from retirement, there are always others who have “been there, done that” from whom you can learn. So no matter who you are, I always say, “NOW is a great time to start.”

If/when you’re more experienced, you may want to BE a mentor. Please do so!! It’s an incredibly fulfilling experience and I believe that mentors learn just as much as those they assist. But I encourage everyone to also find a mentor of your own. As humans, we’re always learning and evolving, and even the most experienced professional doesn’t know everything.

Who Should Be My Mentor?

This is a big question and I suggest you take some time to think it over carefully. The choice of person makes a big difference in the success of the relationship and, ultimately, in YOUR success. Look for someone whom you respect professionally and someone who has a career you’d like to emulate. That doesn’t mean you want to follow in their footsteps exactly; you’re just looking for a person who has had success in your field and someone who embodies the professional characteristics you’re working to achieve.

Of course, you also need to find someone who is willing to be a mentor, is eager to share knowledge, will be open and honest with you, will have time to dedicate to you and is trustworthy. You’ll be potentially sharing a lot of sensitive information so this last point is essential.

Lastly, I recommend that you look for someone you like on a personal level, not just a professional one. You should look forward to spending time with your mentor. The conversations should be pleasant, engaging and inspiring.

How Does the Mentorship Relationship Work?

This is an important task. It can be a formal arrangement, an informal one or something in the middle. No matter what, it has to work for both of you. To get started, I recommend that you, as the mentee, come up with your “ideal” relationship. Share the information with your mentor and make sure you leave it open for discussion. Find out how much  time they are willing to invest and please build a schedule based on that.

I can tell you  my first mentorship relationship was rather informal. My mentor and I would meet  , talk on  phone about once a week / month (usually for an hour) and in between these conversations, we would also  communicate via email.

Whenever  I was facing a challenge, I’d check in with him for a little guidance and reassurance that I was doing the right thing. It was an easy relationship for both of us to keep up with, but I got tremendous benefit from it.

The key to success is simply defining the relationship from the beginning. Make it an open dialogue. Ask for what you want and need from your mentor, be willing to compromise, and listen closely to make sure there is agreement.

Lastly, let your mentor know that you see this as an ongoing process. If, at any time, the relationship isn’t working for either one of you, the details can and should be reviewed and revised. This doesn’t have to be stressful like a contract negotiation. Remember, it’s supposed to be a fun, growth experience!

What’s In It For Them?

You’re probably reading all of this thinking, “I get why I should want a mentor. But what’s in it for the them?” Good question. And the answer is different for everyone.

Some mentors simply believe in the person they are helping and want to see him or her succeed, and that alone is worth the time and energy. Others look at mentorship as a way of leaving a legacy. As a mentor, you get to pass your wisdom down to the next generation. You have the power to make a huge difference in your industry, your company and even the world.

In truth, some mentors just like the challenge. They like to talk about what they know and their experiences. It’s fun when someone looks up to you. It kind of feeds the ego.

So there are all kinds of reasons mentors do what they do. It’s a win-win situation.

I hope I’ve inspired you to start a mentorship relationship today.