Mentoring: The Secret Ingredient to Career Success and Growth

Why Mentoring Matters in Your Career

Think about someone who changed the trajectory of your career. Maybe it was that boss who saw potential in you before you saw it yourself. Or that colleague who told you the hard truth when you needed to hear it. That's the power of mentorship—and it's something I've seen transform careers time and time again.

I've had the opportunity to work with thousands of leaders and hundreds of teams - as an executive coach and through the leadership programs we have designed and facilitated - and I've noticed a pattern: behind every successful professional stands at least one great #mentor. And since it's National Mentoring Month (and I bet you've got some career goals brewing for the new year), let's talk about why mentoring could be your secret weapon for growth.

Why You Need a Mentor (Hint: It's More Than Just Advice)

If you think mentoring is just for newcomers or people who are at the start of their careers, Think again. In "You, Me, We," we explore how relationships drive success, and mentoring is one of the most powerful relationships you can cultivate. Whether you're a seasoned executive or just starting out in your career, having someone in your corner who can challenge your thinking, spot your blind spots, and push you toward growth is invaluable. Mentors are for anyone who’s looking to grow, thrive, and get a little (or a lot) better at what they do.

Mentor, Coach, Advisor – What's the Difference?

While mentors, coaches, and advisors all guide your growth, they serve slightly different purposes. A mentor offers long-term guidance, sharing their experiences and perspectives, helping you navigate challenges based on their own career. A coach, on the other hand, is more focused on facilitating your self-discovery and providing strategies to help you achieve specific goals. A mentor typically focuses on broader guidance, while a coach might zero in on specific areas of growth. Meanwhile, an advisor brings specialized expertise, offering direct recommendations based on their knowledge of a particular area or industry.

However you choose to describe the relationship none will hand you a roadmap. Instead, they're your thinking partner, who helps you see possibilities you might have missed. As Ruth Gotian, Ed.D., M.S. and Andy Lopata point out in their book The Financial Times Guide to Mentoring, great mentors don't just offer suggestions – they challenge you to think differently and take intelligent risks.

How Mentorship Changed My Career

Early in my career, I had a mentor, Stuart B, who pushed me out of my comfort zone. Stuart challenged me to present ideas I wasn't quite sure about yet, helped me prepare for promotions and new opportunities. Was it uncomfortable? At times! Did that experience accelerate my growth? Absolutely. That mentor relationship transformed how I approached leadership and ultimately led me to opportunities I never thought possible.

Ready to Get Started?

Remember: The most successful leaders I work with all have one thing in common—they never stop seeking guidance from others.

Look around. Who could be a potential mentor and the catalyst for your next level of growth? Who could help you turn "okay" into exceptional? Your next mentor might be closer than you think.

And if you're not sure where to begin, make sure to hit 'subscribe' so you won't miss my next post where I share a few tips on how to find your perfect mentor match.