“We Rise By Lifting Others “ – Why Mentoring is A Win-Win For Your Career

In the many interviews I gave, I was often asked about the secret recipe for business success. My answer always is: You won’t succeed by doing it alone. In today’s fast changing environment, cooperation and partnership are key. This holds true both to business and personal success and progress.

I was fortunate enough to have amazing people at my side who supported me along my way and to explore the positive impact mentoring can have on one’s career. Whether you are the mentor or the mentee, the mentoring relationship can push your career to new heights. I learned so much from my own mentors that it was an obvious choice for me to also become a mentor.

The benefits of mentoring are countless. Studies show that good mentoring can lead to greater career success, including promotions, raises, and increased opportunities. Organizations that embrace mentoring benefit from higher levels of employee engagement, retention, and knowledge sharing. It comes as no surprise then that 71% of Fortune 500 companies offer mentoring programs to their employees.

Then again, mentoring in itself is not a guarantee for success. Effective mentoring takes effort, both from the mentor and the mentee. This is all about commitment – and building a trusted relationship.

I am a firm believer that great leaders are those that hold her- or himself accountable for finding the potential in people, wanting to see them succeed. Great leaders inspire people to reach even higher and achieve greater. And the leaders who get the most out of their people are the leaders who care most about them. As a mentor, this includes a willingness to reflect on your own experiences, challenges, and potentially failures – and sharing them. Only this way, this can provide a valuable learning opportunity.

As a mentee, there probably is nothing worse that being unclear about your goals, needs, and wants. As said, mentoring itself isn’t a magic wand. Mentees are responsible for creating the mentoring agenda – so be clear about what you hope to get from it! It goes without saying that mentees should also be open to seek and accept constructive feedback. Because while the truth might sometimes hurt, without it, there won’t be any progress.

Apart from openness, commitment, and clear goals, good mentoring relationship takes time to develop. Build trust first, and then you can start with career challenges solving and advising. Also, take time to reflect and evaluate now and then: How is the mentoring relationship going for you? What helped, what didn’t? What can you do to make this relationship even more rewarding?

Done right, mentoring can be a rewarding – and potentially also a life-changing - experience for both parties by exposing them to new ideas and perspectives. And while it takes time and commitment, I think it is well worth the effort. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for the experiences and insights I gained both as a mentee and a mentor.

Napoleon Hill once said: It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed. Learning is a constant process throughout our professional lives, and it doesn’t stop when you’ve become a team leader. So make sure to never stop looking for opportunities for professional development - and pass on your learnings.