Tuesday
May102011
Mentors 101
Do you have a mentor? Do you know what a mentor is and what value they can add to your career? Do you know how to get one? This article has been crafted to help answer questions you might have about mentoring. If there is someone in your life who could use a mentor, please share this article with them.
First, what is a mentor?
A mentor is:
Consider this. You've navigated the challenges of college life: choosing a major, managing your schedule and course load. You've learned study techniques, developed positive relationships with professors, endured the pressures of exams and the complexities of interpersonal relationships. Now, imagine a young person starting college in the fall. Wouldn’t he benefit from having someone like you to consult for advice? A mentor.
What does a mentor do?
Depending on the arrangement, a mentor may provide a great deal of input on your career or just occasional contact. One of your mentors may provide expertise in a specific discipline, such as sales or product management, while another may give you insight on the company where they are employed. There is much benefit to be gained from learning about the experiences of others. A mentor can be a great sounding board as you navigate your career, giving you real world insight into challenging business situations.
Every mentor relationship is different. It is important when approaching someone to be your mentor that you define up front what kind of help you need, why you have chosen this person, and what your expectations are with respect to the future relationship. Carefully articulated expectations will help a busy professional decide whether or not they can commit to a mentoring relationship with you. Therefore, consider how busy this accomplished person may be and maintain a realistic outlook. There are no set rules about how often one connects with a mentor. For example, you may have a few telephone conversations each year and exchange emails the rest of the time. Or perhaps you meet for coffee once a quarter. Once again, it is important to set parameters at the start so that your prospective mentor can participate effectively.
How do you pick your mentors?
Consider your goals. Think about areas where you feel you have weaknesses or strengths that could benefit from further development. Then, assess your network. Who do you know? Who might your friends and family know? How about your professors or clergy? Everybody has a network. There must be movers and shakers in your field that you believe have something to teach you. It’s important to identify those individuals. Or perhaps you would benefit from a professional relationship with someone in a different area. For example, if you are a biologist, but you aspire to one day have your own specialty DNA testing lab, you would benefit from a mentoring relationship with a senior biologist, but also try to find a CEO at a successful lab doing complementary work to your field. You will probably benefit greatly from their experience running a science-related business.
How do you approach someone to be your mentor?
The tactic for asking someone to mentor you varies depending on how well you know them. If you already have an established relationship with someone (for example, they were your boss at a summer internship), it will probably be very easy for you to approach them:
“Mr. Jones, I really enjoyed working for you last summer. You were using some innovative techniques that really got me excited about my goal of creating a sports management business. It would be so helpful to me if I could exchange ideas with you from time to time. Would you consider being a mentor?”
An earnest and respectful request is likely to receive a positive response (after all, it is flattering). If they decline, don’t take it personally. They may have limited time or are already mentoring others. Be as clear as possible about your reasons and your goal for the relationship (e.g. to learn about an industry, polish your sales skills, get input on your business plan, etc.).
If you are approaching someone through a third-party affiliation, be sure to mention the person you share in common.
“Joe Davis from the Boeing sales office is a family friend. He suggested I contact you because you know so much about designing aircraft engines. I am pretty passionate about that field too and he thought we should meet sometime.”
Note that if you don’t already know the person, you should set up an introductory discussion first. If you feel you had a good rapport afterwards, approach them on a future occasion to ask them about being your mentor. Don’t be shy about reaching out. You never know who may say yes and that “yes” could change the course of your career. After the person responds, be sure to thank them. Send a handwritten note, if possible. It will set the tone and demonstrate that you are serious and appreciative.
You have a mentor. Now what?
The answer is…it depends. Each mentor relationship is unique. You may meet in person, by phone or by email. You may connect only when you have a specific question or at regular intervals to discuss general topics. It is best to have some agenda in mind when your mentor sets aside time to meet with you. After all, you respect their time and want your interactions to be productive. If you waste your mentor’s time on chit chat, they may be less likely to fit you into their calendar in future.
Mentors can be extremely helpful with respect to networking. Once you have cultivated a relationship with your mentor, it is entirely possible they may introduce you to other established individuals in their network. You can never know too many people in your career and you never know who may help you in your next job search. Be appreciative of these connections and be open to sharing your own contacts. Relationships go both ways. This person is helping you, so thank them and endeavor to find ways to contribute to the relationship by sharing relevant information, (e.g. “I went to the Tech Expo in Atlanta last month and picked up some pamphlets for you on the new portable cell towers for disaster management. Since we were discussing solutions recently, I thought you might be interested.”
Talk to your mentor about your career. Your goals. The obstacles you face. S. Ask questions about ways to improve your marketability and branding in your field. Ask them to give you honest assessments about your capabilities. Sometimes an outsider can give you great feedback that someone who knows you more personally doesn’t see in you. Having a mentor can be a great professional advantage. It’s like having a team behind you -- one you assembled yourself. Respect what your mentors have to offer. You chose them because you thought highly of them and they agreed because they think highly of you.
From time to time, evaluate how the mentor relationship is addressing the goals you had when it started. Are you learning what you thought you would? Are you learning something else that has value? Are you being challenged to grow? Are you communicating effectively with your mentor? Do you and your mentor still have time to cultivate the relationship?
What goes around…
Mentor relationships aren’t necessarily forever. At some point, your mentor may simply become your esteemed colleague, your friend, or a professional acquaintance. Everything changes eventually. Endeavor to maintain positive relationships with your former mentors (you can have numerous mentors throughout your life) over time. Finally, don’t be surprised if others seek you out as a mentor in the future. At that time, you will be in a position to appreciate the special value of such a relationship and pass along knowledge in the same generous way your mentors shared their expertise with you.
First, what is a mentor?A mentor is:
- a trusted counselor
- a supportive colleague
- an influential person who provides advice & guidance in your career development
- all of the above
Consider this. You've navigated the challenges of college life: choosing a major, managing your schedule and course load. You've learned study techniques, developed positive relationships with professors, endured the pressures of exams and the complexities of interpersonal relationships. Now, imagine a young person starting college in the fall. Wouldn’t he benefit from having someone like you to consult for advice? A mentor.
What does a mentor do?
Depending on the arrangement, a mentor may provide a great deal of input on your career or just occasional contact. One of your mentors may provide expertise in a specific discipline, such as sales or product management, while another may give you insight on the company where they are employed. There is much benefit to be gained from learning about the experiences of others. A mentor can be a great sounding board as you navigate your career, giving you real world insight into challenging business situations.
Every mentor relationship is different. It is important when approaching someone to be your mentor that you define up front what kind of help you need, why you have chosen this person, and what your expectations are with respect to the future relationship. Carefully articulated expectations will help a busy professional decide whether or not they can commit to a mentoring relationship with you. Therefore, consider how busy this accomplished person may be and maintain a realistic outlook. There are no set rules about how often one connects with a mentor. For example, you may have a few telephone conversations each year and exchange emails the rest of the time. Or perhaps you meet for coffee once a quarter. Once again, it is important to set parameters at the start so that your prospective mentor can participate effectively.
How do you pick your mentors?
Consider your goals. Think about areas where you feel you have weaknesses or strengths that could benefit from further development. Then, assess your network. Who do you know? Who might your friends and family know? How about your professors or clergy? Everybody has a network. There must be movers and shakers in your field that you believe have something to teach you. It’s important to identify those individuals. Or perhaps you would benefit from a professional relationship with someone in a different area. For example, if you are a biologist, but you aspire to one day have your own specialty DNA testing lab, you would benefit from a mentoring relationship with a senior biologist, but also try to find a CEO at a successful lab doing complementary work to your field. You will probably benefit greatly from their experience running a science-related business.
How do you approach someone to be your mentor?
The tactic for asking someone to mentor you varies depending on how well you know them. If you already have an established relationship with someone (for example, they were your boss at a summer internship), it will probably be very easy for you to approach them:
“Mr. Jones, I really enjoyed working for you last summer. You were using some innovative techniques that really got me excited about my goal of creating a sports management business. It would be so helpful to me if I could exchange ideas with you from time to time. Would you consider being a mentor?”
An earnest and respectful request is likely to receive a positive response (after all, it is flattering). If they decline, don’t take it personally. They may have limited time or are already mentoring others. Be as clear as possible about your reasons and your goal for the relationship (e.g. to learn about an industry, polish your sales skills, get input on your business plan, etc.).
If you are approaching someone through a third-party affiliation, be sure to mention the person you share in common.
“Joe Davis from the Boeing sales office is a family friend. He suggested I contact you because you know so much about designing aircraft engines. I am pretty passionate about that field too and he thought we should meet sometime.”
Note that if you don’t already know the person, you should set up an introductory discussion first. If you feel you had a good rapport afterwards, approach them on a future occasion to ask them about being your mentor. Don’t be shy about reaching out. You never know who may say yes and that “yes” could change the course of your career. After the person responds, be sure to thank them. Send a handwritten note, if possible. It will set the tone and demonstrate that you are serious and appreciative.
You have a mentor. Now what?
The answer is…it depends. Each mentor relationship is unique. You may meet in person, by phone or by email. You may connect only when you have a specific question or at regular intervals to discuss general topics. It is best to have some agenda in mind when your mentor sets aside time to meet with you. After all, you respect their time and want your interactions to be productive. If you waste your mentor’s time on chit chat, they may be less likely to fit you into their calendar in future.
Mentors can be extremely helpful with respect to networking. Once you have cultivated a relationship with your mentor, it is entirely possible they may introduce you to other established individuals in their network. You can never know too many people in your career and you never know who may help you in your next job search. Be appreciative of these connections and be open to sharing your own contacts. Relationships go both ways. This person is helping you, so thank them and endeavor to find ways to contribute to the relationship by sharing relevant information, (e.g. “I went to the Tech Expo in Atlanta last month and picked up some pamphlets for you on the new portable cell towers for disaster management. Since we were discussing solutions recently, I thought you might be interested.”
Talk to your mentor about your career. Your goals. The obstacles you face. S. Ask questions about ways to improve your marketability and branding in your field. Ask them to give you honest assessments about your capabilities. Sometimes an outsider can give you great feedback that someone who knows you more personally doesn’t see in you. Having a mentor can be a great professional advantage. It’s like having a team behind you -- one you assembled yourself. Respect what your mentors have to offer. You chose them because you thought highly of them and they agreed because they think highly of you.
From time to time, evaluate how the mentor relationship is addressing the goals you had when it started. Are you learning what you thought you would? Are you learning something else that has value? Are you being challenged to grow? Are you communicating effectively with your mentor? Do you and your mentor still have time to cultivate the relationship?
What goes around…
Mentor relationships aren’t necessarily forever. At some point, your mentor may simply become your esteemed colleague, your friend, or a professional acquaintance. Everything changes eventually. Endeavor to maintain positive relationships with your former mentors (you can have numerous mentors throughout your life) over time. Finally, don’t be surprised if others seek you out as a mentor in the future. At that time, you will be in a position to appreciate the special value of such a relationship and pass along knowledge in the same generous way your mentors shared their expertise with you.
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