You're stuck in a rut in your IT Strategy career. Can mentorship help you get ahead?

1 What is mentorship?

Mentorship is a relationship between a mentor and a mentee, where the mentor shares their knowledge, insights, and advice with the mentee, who benefits from their experience, wisdom, and support. Mentorship can take many forms, such as formal programs, informal connections, peer groups, or online platforms. The goal of mentorship is to help the mentee grow professionally and personally, by providing them with feedback, guidance, resources, and opportunities.

2 Why do you need mentorship?

Mentorship can be incredibly beneficial for advancing your IT Strategy career. It can teach you new skills and perspectives that can help you become more capable in the field, while also giving you honest and constructive feedback on your strengths, weaknesses, goals, and challenges. Mentorship can also open up valuable resources and opportunities, enabling you to build relationships with influential people in your field who can offer support, advice, and inspiration. Finally, having a mentor can increase your confidence and motivation by having someone who believes in you and encourages you to reach your full potential.

3 How do you find a mentor?

Finding a mentor can be a daunting task, but it's not impossible. You must be proactive, strategic, and flexible in your search. To begin your journey, identify your needs and goals - what do you want to learn from a mentor? What are your current challenges? What kind of mentor are you looking for? Then, look for potential mentors in different places - your organization, alumni network, professional associations, or online communities. Additionally, consider attending events, workshops, webinars, or podcasts related to IT Strategy and connecting with the speakers or attendees. When reaching out to prospects with a message, be clear and respectful. Explain who you are, what you do, why you're interested in them, and what you hope to gain from a mentorship relationship. Be concise and polite. Don't ask for too much upfront - instead ask for a short meeting or phone call to discuss further. Furthermore, build rapport and trust with your potential mentor by showing genuine interest in them and their work. Ask thoughtful questions, listen actively, and share relevant information about yourself. Demonstrate your value and willingness to learn. Follow up with them afterwards and thank them for their time.

4 How do you make the most of mentorship?

Having a mentor is not enough; to make the most of your mentorship relationship, you must be proactive, respectful, and committed. To help you do this, set clear and realistic expectations and goals with your mentor. Discuss what you want to achieve, how often you communicate, what kind of support you need, and how you measure progress. Prepare for meetings and interactions by doing your homework, researching, and reflecting beforehand. Have an agenda, questions, or topics to discuss. Share updates, achievements, challenges, and feedback. Most importantly, take action on your mentor's advice; try new things and learn from mistakes. Share results with your mentor and ask for feedback or guidance. Show gratitude for their support.

5 What are the common pitfalls of mentorship?

Mentorship is not a magic bullet and can have pitfalls if you're not careful. It's important to avoid having unrealistic or mismatched expectations. Don't expect your mentor to solve all your problems or do the work for you. Be clear about what you need and adjust expectations accordingly. Additionally, don't be passive or dependent; take charge of your own learning and development. Respond to your mentor in a timely and polite manner, and don't forget to thank them for their support. Acknowledge, value, and celebrate your mentor's contribution to ensure a successful mentorship relationship.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?