If you are a product manager or aspiring to become one, you might be wondering how to find a mentor who can guide you, challenge you, and help you grow in your career. Having a mentor can be a valuable asset for your professional development, as well as your personal satisfaction and well-being. But how do you find the right mentor for you? Here are some key steps to consider.
Before you start looking for a mentor, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and learn from the relationship. What are your short-term and long-term goals as a product manager? What are your strengths and weaknesses? What are the skills, knowledge, or perspectives that you want to develop or improve? Having a specific and realistic vision of your goals will help you narrow down your search and communicate your expectations to potential mentors.
Defining your mentorship goal is crucial - the best practice is to focus any mentoring engagement on one of the below challenges: - Stakeholder management challenges (usually with your management) ???? - Practice evolution challenges (e.g. evolving from an established PM to a senior PM) ???? - Career evolution challenges (finding your next role) ??♂??? - Leveling up a specific skill (e.g., customer engagement, business assessment, market analysis) ???????
It is important to establish a genuine connection through networking, and demonstrate your commitment to learning and growth.
Know your limitations! Mentors don’t all have to be PM’s think about your weaknesses and address them accordingly. A few examples from my personal development: 1. Being weak in understanding ux - took a ux program and engaged with design communities 2. Wanted to grow in data fluency - learnt some BI tools and collaborated ore closely with BI teams
Workforce Strategy Consultant | Product Strategy | Healthcare | Process Automation | AI
Identify the types of products (business, industry, sector, technology, etc.) so you can understand more about the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to build those types of products. Then, when you are looking for mentors, you will be more apt to connecting with someone who has context to product development / solutioning from a similar place to your interests.
Once you have defined your goals, you can start looking for people who can help you achieve them. There are many ways to find potential mentors, such as online platforms, professional networks, events, communities, or referrals. You can also look within your own organization, or outside of it, depending on your preferences and needs. When you identify potential mentors, look for people who have the experience, expertise, and style that match your goals and personality. You can also consider diversity, such as gender, background, industry, or role, to enrich your learning and perspective.
the rookie mistake here is to ask somebody that has something to gain with the outcomes of your work. And you always want to do a reference check with somebody who knows this person. Is he/she trustworthy? You don't want your biggest insecurities or screw-ups being shared at the lunch table or on the local tennis court.
After you have a list of potential mentors, you need to reach out to them and initiate a conversation. You can send them a short and polite email, or a message on LinkedIn, or any other channel that is appropriate and convenient. In your message, introduce yourself, explain why you are interested in them as a mentor, and ask if they are open to having a chat with you. Be respectful of their time and availability, and don't expect an immediate or positive response. If they agree to talk to you, prepare some questions and topics that you want to discuss with them, and show your enthusiasm and curiosity.
Go for one at a time and follow your gut where to start. Remember that they are also assessing you from the start, so shallow talks because he/she is one of five potential mentors will not cut it.
Mentorship doesn’t have to be labeled. Asking someone to be a “mentor” can sometimes feel like a big ask depending on how that person defines mentorship and how well they know you. One way to explore prospective mentorships might be to start with specific questions that you’d love their perspective on, why you chose them (flattery never hurts), and how this might help you. After the conversation, thank them for their time and ask whether it would be okay if you reached out again in the future. This might sufficiently open the door to an informal “mentorship” that gets you the access you want without applying a label to it. If “vibes” are there after several exchanges, consider asking for a mentor relationship then.
If you have a successful chat with a potential mentor, you can proceed to establish rapport and expectations for the mentoring relationship. This is a crucial step to ensure that both of you are on the same page and have a mutual understanding of what you want to get out of the relationship. You can discuss things like how often and how long you want to meet, what format and channel you prefer, what topics and goals you want to focus on, how you want to give and receive feedback, and how you want to measure progress and success. You can also agree on some ground rules, such as confidentiality, honesty, respect, and commitment.
Once you have found a mentor and established a mentoring relationship, you need to maintain and nurture it over time. This means that you need to follow through on your agreements, show up on time, be prepared, be proactive, be respectful, be open-minded, be grateful, and be flexible. You also need to communicate regularly with your mentor, update them on your achievements and challenges, ask for their advice and guidance, and give them feedback and appreciation. You can also seek opportunities to add value to your mentor, such as sharing your insights, resources, or connections, or helping them with their projects or goals.
Finding a mentor in product management can be a rewarding and beneficial experience for your career and personal growth. By following these key steps, you can increase your chances of finding a mentor who can support you, inspire you, and help you reach your full potential as a product manager.
Certainly, one aspect that often seems to be overlooked or undervalued in modern professional development, especially in dynamic fields like product management, is the opportunity for mentees to shadow their mentors or other experienced professionals. This practice of shadowing can be profoundly impactful for several reasons: 1) Real-World Learning 2) Understanding Nuances 3) Immediate Feedback and Learning 4) Building Confidence 5) Networking and Relationship Building
Be Open to Reverse Mentoring: Sometimes, younger or less experienced professionals can offer fresh perspectives or expertise in areas like new technologies or market trends. Networking and Community Engagement: Actively participate in product management communities and events to broaden your network, which can lead to unexpected mentoring opportunities. Leveraging Digital Platforms for Virtual Mentorship: Use online platforms to access a global pool of mentors, benefiting from diverse expertise and perspectives across cultures and industries.( I use LunchClub for virtual coffee chats)
Based on my current experience finding a mentor in an early-stage data-product startup is crucial. Here is what I will recommend for anyone in this space key factors/steps involved in finding mentor. Look for someone with real experience in building B2B data products, who understands the challenges of working with limited resources and can guide from concept to success. They should be in data analysis, able to translate complex information into actionable insights, and empower you in data handling. Startup experience is essential; a mentor should thrive in fast-paced, unpredictable environments and encourage quick learning from failures. The ideal mentor is not just a guide but a partner in creating something remarkable.