If you're looking to advance your career in IT management, having a mentor can be a valuable asset. A mentor is someone who has more experience and knowledge than you in your field, and who can offer you guidance, feedback, and support. But how can you use your mentor to get ahead? Here are some tips to make the most of your mentoring relationship.
The first step is to find a mentor who suits your needs and goals. You want someone who has a similar background, interests, and values as you, and who works in the area or role that you aspire to. You also want someone who is willing to invest time and energy in your development, and who can challenge you to grow. You can look for potential mentors within your organization, your network, or your professional associations.
The right mentor: wise, empathetic, and committed. Seek experience, honesty, and connections. Success shared! There is a big disclaimer: Mentorship is a journey, not a destination! For this reason, on the road, you will need to follow your purpose but also define your cardinal direction and include your mentor.
As someone who is passionate about mentoring and promoting self development, I would say that finding the right mentor is challenging but not impossible. I have been asked to be someone’s mentor and it’s definitely an extremely enriching experience for both of us (Mentor and Mentee). When someone takes the first step in their development journey, the vulnerability in asking relevant questions, eagerness to listen and acting on the feedback really delivers results. In other cases, I feel the need to mentor someone that might not be ready to ask for it, yet I offer unsolicited feedback and more often than not, the person becomes a silent receptor and takes action on it. Be open to formal and informal mentorship and reap the benefits!
When I have sought out a mentor, I have looked for someone who has experience and perspective in areas I want to grow towards. While I expect some coaching from a mentor, I also look for them to use their experience to inform their advice on the challenges I discuss with them. They may be in a job that is in my future, working at level in the organization that I aspire to attain or have mastery in an area I need to develop.
While I agree finding a mentor with similar interests and values as you is important, I don't believe that a "similar background" or "works in the area or role you aspire to" is a hard requirement - for me, finding a mentor who could give me executive-level feedback on my approach - without necessarily being an in-depth expert in IT - was a valuable tool. You shouldn't use a mirror as a mentor - but a good mentor will hold up a mirror to you.
I feel you need to ask yourself if you trust your mentor or not, and if you do, really listen to them. One time my mentor told me I should apply for a job. To me it wasn't very interesting. Little did I know I'd be sitting in a room with very senior people monthly. It turned out to be one of the best jobs I ever had!
Once you have a mentor, you need to establish a clear and mutual understanding of what you expect from each other. How often will you meet, and how will you communicate? What are your specific objectives and milestones? How will you measure your progress and success? How will you handle feedback and conflicts? Having a written agreement or contract can help you both stay on track and avoid misunderstandings.
After finding a mentor, it's important to set clear, mutual expectations. Discuss the frequency and methods of your meetings, define your specific goals and milestones, and decide how to track progress and success. Establish how feedback and disputes will be managed. A written agreement or contract can provide a structured framework, helping both parties stay focused and minimize misunderstandings.
A mentor will show the way forward, but they won't be responsible for success. The main actor is oneself. The mentor will give you the light and you will be his shadow, active like the coal that sooner rather than later you will become a diamond. Don't lose your senses, follow your instinct, but not without remembering beforehand that your mentor is already a Master while you begin to walk the path.
Clearly define your career goals and aspirations to your mentor. Discuss expectations regarding the frequency and format of mentorship meetings, communication channels, and areas where you seek guidance and support. Establish a timeline for achieving specific career milestones and objectives.
To be more good than you are today… you must accept that over next night, you must read, you must understand, you must have to learn it, from books and from context!… and after to sleep ??
Effective mentorship: Set clear goals, create an action plan with your mentor, evaluate progress, maintain regular contact, and continue learning even after the mentorship ends. Remember, mentorship is a continuous journey toward success. And sometimes, the best lessons come from unexpected detours—like finding treasure in a hidden forest!
One of the main benefits of having a mentor is that you can get honest and constructive feedback and advice from someone who knows the ins and outs of your field. You can ask your mentor for feedback on your work performance, your skills, your strengths and weaknesses, and your career plans. You can also seek advice on how to deal with challenges, opportunities, or dilemmas that you face in your work environment. Be open to learning from your mentor's experience and perspective, and apply their suggestions to improve your results.
In the East the mentee is chosen by the mentor, here in the West the process is the opposite. To choose a mentor, I think the first aspect we should look for is that ethical and moral values are strong attributes in whoever will mentor. Analyzing career and experience is important and connects with our career goals.
Asking feedback for personal growth is a no-brainer. I use two methods to seek feedback. 1. Feedback from Seniors/Experts: Wherever possible have one-to-one conversation with seniors/experts and aim to make continuous improvements. 2. Feedback from Juniors/Team Members: This is also essential. There is a lot to learn from juniors, starting from interns - a unique perspective, better approach, quicker process, it could be anything. However, it is important to note that, to gain full value, please ensure to take ANONYMOUS feedback. Otherwise, team members/juniors may not feel confident enough to highlight any improvement areas for you. Also, you might receive feedbacks just to please you - which won't help you in finding improvement areas!
Having a mentor provides the invaluable benefit of receiving candid and constructive feedback and advice from someone experienced in your field. You can request feedback on various aspects such as work performance, skills, strengths, weaknesses, and career aspirations. Additionally, mentors can provide guidance for navigating challenges, seizing opportunities, or resolving dilemmas encountered in the workplace. Embrace the opportunity to learn from your mentor's insights and experiences, applying their recommendations to enhance your professional growth and results.
Actively seek feedback from your mentor on your performance, skills, and areas for improvement. Be open to constructive criticism and use it as an opportunity for growth. Seek advice and insights from your mentor on navigating challenges, making strategic career decisions, and seizing opportunities for advancement.
I have successfully included mirroring and ”gemba - go out and see” to get feedback in action and to walk along and experience new situations or known situations in s new environment
Another benefit of having a mentor is that you can expand your network and access new contacts and resources. Your mentor can introduce you to people who can help you advance your career, such as potential employers, clients, partners, or mentors. They can also recommend you for projects, events, or training that can boost your profile and skills. You can leverage your mentor's network to gain more visibility, credibility, and opportunities in your field.
Com a ajuda de um mentor conseguimos muito mais do que nos preparar para as oportunidades, mas entendemos mais sobre nossas habilidades, capacidades, gaps e objetivos. Através destas descobertas, podemos decidir os próximos passos para o futuro, o que pode representar uma mudan?a radical ou a confian?a para prosseguir no caminho que já estávamos trilhando. Em qualquer das op??es, expandiremos nossa rede de contatos com o apoio dele, o que trará mais oportunidades e encurtará processos de contrata??o.
Ter um mentor n?o só fornece orienta??o e feedback, mas também abre portas para expandir sua rede profissional, oferecendo acesso a novos contatos e recursos. Seu mentor pode conectá-lo com pessoas influentes, como potenciais empregadores, clientes, parceiros ou outros mentores, potencialmente acelerando seu avan?o na carreira. Eles também podem recomendá-lo para projetos, eventos ou programas de treinamento que podem aprimorar suas habilidades e aumentar sua visibilidade em seu campo. Ao aproveitar a rede de mentores, você pode ganhar mais credibilidade, visibilidade e oportunidades, enriquecendo sua jornada profissional.
La red de contactos es muy importante para un profesional, si existe la posibilidad de que un mentor pueda presentarte a su red de contactos, puede ayudar al intercambio de ideas y probablemente aspirar en un futuro a un puesto en otra compa?ía.
Um mentor pode oferecer orienta??o e conhecimento, mas o sucesso depende do seu esfor?o e dedica??o em aplicar o aprendizado.
Leverage your mentor's network to connect with other professionals in your industry or field. Attend networking events, industry conferences, and professional development workshops recommended by your mentor. Cultivate relationships with individuals who can offer valuable insights, career opportunities, and mentorship beyond your primary mentor.
Finally, you need to show appreciation and reciprocity to your mentor. A mentoring relationship is a two-way street, and you should not take your mentor for granted. You can express your gratitude by thanking your mentor regularly, acknowledging their contribution to your success, and giving them positive feedback. You can also reciprocate by offering your help, support, or expertise to your mentor when they need it. You can also share your insights, ideas, or resources that might benefit them. By showing appreciation and reciprocity, you can strengthen your bond with your mentor and make them feel valued and respected.
Express gratitude to your mentor for their guidance, support, and investment in your career development. Acknowledge their contributions and the impact they have had on your professional growth. Look for opportunities to reciprocate by offering support, assistance, or mentorship to others in your network or community.
To maintain a healthy mentoring relationship, it is important to show appreciation and reciprocity. Thank your mentor regularly and recognize their impact on your success. Mentoring is a two-way street; Offer your mentor your support or expertise whenever possible. Sharing insights or resources that can benefit your mentor can strengthen your relationship, making it more fulfilling for both of you. This approach ensures that the mentee feels valued and respected, fostering a positive and lasting bond.
Creo que la gratitud es muy importante, asimismo guardar contacto con nuestros mentores. Son personas que no solo se dan el tiempo para realizar estas tareas sino también comparten experiencias vividas sean profesionales o personales.
Be open minded to the advice you receive. Sometimes advice may not be what you want to hear, but something you need to hear. Also, don't surround yourself with mentor's who are already part of your network or who have some skin in your game. Their views may align too easily with your own.
A competent mentor will be able to: 1. help you discover yourself 2. guide you in finding the right path 3. help you in defining the value you bring to your team, organization, industry 4. help you in subtly showcasing your value within the organization and industry 5. help you in creating a personal brand YOU.
"Use your mentor" is not a good term Mentors are effective depending on the mentee too. It is the combination that works. Being open from mentee and mentor are important. Looking for specific and definite and matching the same thing from both end may be good or bad. Good as it will reinforce common things. Bad because one may miss to have more diverse perspectives Mentors need not be more experienced in terms of number of years. One can learn from less experienced people also.
Give Back. Mentorship is a two-way street. Think about how you can add value to your mentor’s professional life as well, whether through your perspective, skills, or network.
In my experience, my advice would be to utilize your mentor by seeking their advice on setting career goals, discuss developing new or sharpening transferable necessary skills. List challenges in need of navigating, and expand your network effectively. When you engage in regular discussions, seek feedback, and implement their guidance to progress in your career. Additionally, leverage their experience and connections for learning opportunities, projects, and introductions to key individuals in your field.