Whether the relationship is formal or informal, working with a mentor can literally mean the difference between success or failure when it comes to advancing your career. Maintaining a relationship with a mentor requires passion, time, and effort. Even though it may take a few times to find the ideal mentor, it’s worth it in the end. Here are some key concepts to keep in mind when working with a mentor.
1. Expertise and knowledge is hard to find.
Many business niches simply exist due to the knowledge that’s cultivated through life experiences. There’s no formal educational and/or training program that’s 100 percent capable of fully preparing a person for every potential life scenario. Maybe your specific area of expertise doesn’t require traditional books and classrooms. Your key specialization could be a direct result of just continuing to grow in your profession every day. If this is the case, working with a mentor with a similar background or experience makes more sense than attending meeting and lectures related to your niche.
2. A formal education and training can be very expensive.
Unless the education budget in your organization is unlimited, career development opportunities probably go beyond available resources. However, developing your key skills can come in a variety of ways, including conferences, guest speakers, brown bag lunches, reimbursement or assistance for certifications or higher education, etc. It’s likely that the most personally rewarding and least expensive way any organization or business can promote an individual’s career is through a good mentorship program.
3. Working with a mentor creates greater trust and synergistic flow.
Growing a successful relationship with a mentor primarily depends on your realization that you need extra help. Once this need is acknowledged and a bond is formed, trust begins to build between the mentor and the mentee. When trust increases, greater synergy is achieved overall. In time, the positive synergy will allow you to effectively communicate with your mentor and therefore your projects will run smoother as well.
4. Keep an open mind along with an open door policy.
As previously mentioned, relationships with mentors come in many different forms. Sometimes, it’s even helpful to spend time with a mentor who isn’t necessarily representative of your specific career trajectory or who even works in your niche industry. We talked with Naisa who explained, “Many mentors can offer completely different perspectives in several areas of your career that you never considered before, thus making you think outside the box and growing your general viewpoints. On the other hand, some mentors are simply there in case you need general advice or to listen to certain concerns related to your career. A good mentor can also arbitrate heated disputes among colleagues in a more objective manner overall.”
5. A mentor relationship is a two-way street.
Many people who work with a mentor tend to only focus on the receiving end of the relationship. But, like any other kind of relationship, it takes a bit of work on both parties in order to achieve success. The mentor is strengthening their own skill sets simply by imparting their vast knowledge as they’re coaching an individual along the way. If a mentor puts in a great deal of effort towards the relationship, they are witness to their own personal growth as well. As the saying goes, you have to give to receive.
Overall, there are several different kinds of mentor relationships that you can learn from and ultimately advance your career as a result. The primary goal of the relationship is to bring out the very best of you and what you can bring to the table in your chosen niche. If you’ve never worked with a mentor before, make a short list of what you expect and/or need from using a mentor and go from there.
