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The concept of helping a person through mentoring is an ancient one. According to the Mentoring Institute at the University of New Mexico, it goes all the way back to ancient Greece where a teacher, named Mentor, was in charge of training the son of Ulysses. Of course, the present day concept of mentoring depends on the workplace setting, career goals and more, but the basic idea of turning to a more experienced person for guidance remains a tried-and-true formula that can help you get ahead.
Successful people often talk about the inspiration, encouragement – and even helpful criticism – they’ve received from a mentor. And research shows a host of specific advantages to mentorship.
For example, a recent study published by economist Sylvia Ann Hewlett found that both men and women who have a mentor behind them show more confidence – they are more likely to ask their boss for a “stretch” assignment and are more apt to ask for raises, too. Another study conducted by Connecticut-based research firm Gartner found that over a period of five years, mentors were promoted six times more often than those not in a mentoring program and employees who had mentors were promoted five times more often than those not in a mentoring program.
How do you find your own mentor? Many large companies have mentoring programs in place to help match workers with potential mentors – for example, more than 8,000 employees at Dow Chemical, based in Midland, Michigan, have obtained mentors through such a program. So checking with your employer’s human resources department is a good place to start your mentor search. However, you can also find a mentor on your own by using some practical strategies.
Tips on finding a mentor
Start out with a self-assessment. What are your career goals? What challenges do you face in the workplace? Ask yourself what you are looking for in a mentor. Do you want someone who can be your advocate for a promotion or specific project? Are you more interested in a mentor who can give broader, big-picture career advice?
Don't wait for a mentor to come to you. Joe Watson, chief executive of Without Excuses, a diversity consulting firm in Reston, Virginia, told the New York Times recently that “… many workers are waiting for the equivalent of the 'Career Fairy' to come down and appoint them a divine mentor.” Don’t put finding a mentor on a future to-do list or wait to connect through luck. Instead, actively build relationships with people you respect as you search for a mentor. This can be especially important when starting in a new job or department.
Make sure you are a good listener. Find out what your potential mentor is most concerned about and what information you could gain from his or her experience. Ask questions, too, and see how well you communicate on a one-to-one basis. When possible, observe people you are considering as mentors when they are in action and discuss why they made specific work decisions.
Find a mentor you are comfortable around. Remember that a successful mentoring relationship means both the mentor and the mentee need to have mutual respect, trust and interest in each other’s ideas. The strongest mentor relationships aren't forced, but develop naturally through common interests and chemistry.
Go ahead and ask. If you’ve found a prospective mentor, talk with him or her over coffee, lunch or during a walk and be specific about what you are looking for in terms of a mentor’s time, commitment, and guidance. It’s a good idea to explain why you selected the person as a potential mentor, too. The worst thing that can happen is they say “no” and, even if they do, they may help guide you in your search for another mentor.
Remember: you aren’t locked into only one mentor. Mentoring can be thought of as both a long-term and short-term proposition and you may have several mentors over the course of your work life. You can find mentors outside your workplace, too. For instance, consider building mentoring relationships with people in professional associations you belong to.
Don’t assume a mentor has to be older than you. If you are an older, experienced employee, that doesn’t mean you can’t learn a lot from a mentor who may be younger, but who can provide valuable experience and guidance in a field you are new to, such as a high tech area.
Mentorship is a two-way street and you can learn how to help others as you receive your mentor’s guidance. That can lead you to being a mentor yourself. You don’t have to be a highly seasoned executive to help and encourage talented people around you – especially those new or less experienced in your workplace. In the process of mentoring, you’ll also be building strong work relationships that can be mutually helpful as you continue on your career path, too. |
Sherry Baker is a writer from Atlanta, Georgia. She last wrote the article on Putting Sleep Problems to Bed. |
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