Mentors - An Invaluable Asset

Mentorship can be life changing.

Sometimes life can feel very lonely. A recent survey in Australia concluded that 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women, felt lonely more days than not over a 14 week period.

Now translate that to business, how many working days may you feel lonely than not in a work environment. Whether it is because you are now working mostly away from the office or simply you cannot discuss real issues with anyone in the workplace.

There is lots of "wellbeing washing" going on especially in large organisations. Like greenwashing, wellbeing washing is when a company focuses more on appearing to care about wellbeing than they do on actually taking care of their employees. ( "Here's the phone number to the Employee Assistance Program" - outsourced call center ). Especially if it is a topic such a mental health, that is still unfortunately not well understood by managers in business.

"When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it." - Henry Ford

Consider a Mentor - "Just Do IT"

Staying in the driver’s seat and being proactive about your relationship with your mentor is key to its success. These simple principles will help develop strong mentoring relationships, no matter where you are in your career.

1) Ask for the first meeting. A coffee or video call is low commitment for your target mentor and will give you an opportunity to better understand them and see if they’re the right fit for you. Check each other out on Linked In.

“Never let the fear of striking out get in your way.” – Babe Ruth

2) Nurture the relationship. Don’t just focus the discussion on work. Take the time to really connect with the other person. After your meeting, send a thank-you note to show gratitude for their time. People connection is key, as a mentor I get as much out of the relationship as the mentee. Assisting others and sharing knowledge is very personally rewarding.

3) Maintain the relationship. Demonstrate a return on their investment — their time — by keeping them updated on your progress, offering to help and showing them that you appreciate the time and guidance they are giving to you.

I was lucky enough to work from an organisation many years ago that ran a pilot mentoring program, and I was a Finance guy teamed with the Human Resources Director as my mentor. Oh my goodness, what could I possibly get out of this relationship. Answer: Loads, she was fantastic and enriched my life and skills in so many ways, I could never have imagined. I strongly believe that without that relationship I would not have taken a "good hard look in the mirror", understand my strengths and opportunities for development and reach some of the senior C level roles that came afterwards. Thanks Maree.

Further Benefits

"Believe you can and you're halfway there." - Theodore Roosevelt

To get the most out of a mentoring experience, it is important to choose a mentor who has a deep understanding of how business works. Not necessarily the business you are in, but how people and organisations operate, from the most senior strategic level all the way down to the most basic tactical level.

Advice

One of the key benefits of the mentor-mentee relationship is advice from a more experienced party. Mentors can provide answers to questions and suggestions that can make a big difference when it comes to navigating the business world. "Making the complex, simple" is often much easier to do from the sideline as the coach than on the field as a player.

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” – Wayne Gretzky

Perspective

Because they are experienced, mentors can also provide context and perspectives that were not previously considered. For example, they can be knowledgeable about how consumers and potential investors respond to various strategies because they have encountered similar situations in the past.

“Wisdom is always an overmatch for strength.” – Phil Jackson

Improving skills

In contrast to consultants who may only be concerned with what’s best for a business venture, mentors are invested in helping mentees develop business skills for the long term.

Networking

Mentors have valuable connections in the business world. Networking is vital for climbing the corporate ladder, so having a close relationship with a successful mentor can be essential. As a simple example, I meet many people that do not use Linked In, say they are too busy, its not relevant to them or their current role. Then I am able to share my own experience that in the past 20 years, every single job, contract and directorship I have got has been from my network.

Methods and strategies

Business mentorship can also be a source of proven approaches to prevent or address problems when they arise. From recruiting and staffing to cultivating a positive company culture, mentors provide knowledge for all aspects of business.

Long-lasting relationships

One of the most significant benefits of business mentorship is the chance to collaborate throughout the course of careers. Fostering a long-lasting relationship with mentors can give new business professionals access to consistent guidance and resources. I now have several mentors that i have "collected" over 30 years in business and while I am not in contact with them as often as I would like, I know I can call on them anytime for any assistance.

Confidence and encouragement

Sometimes all it takes to make important business decisions is confidence. Having someone to "bounce" ideas or thoughts about certain short or long term situations you maybe facing really helps when they are able to have you consider several perspectives. A recent example for me was a finance person I was mentoring got promoted to be Chief Financial Officer ( CFO) and was having trouble understanding the perspective of the Sales Director and how to bring up a few more difficult items. We discussed and he took away a plan, feeling much more confident.

Mentors are perfectly positioned to provide guidance and reinforce the business skills their mentees have, making them more self-assured in all of their business interactions.

Conclusion

If you are serious about your business career and you don't have a mentor you need to ask just one question.

"If not, why not" ?

"Change is hard at first, messy in the middle, and gorgeous at the end." - Robin Sharma

#business #accountingandaccountants

Some details included and further details at the Harvard Business Review Article

https://hbr.org/2021/03/whats-the-right-way-to-find-a-mentor?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=hbr&utm_source=facebook&tpcc=orgsocial_edit