January is National Mentoring Month and a perfect time to dive into the topic of mentorship. There are several types of mentoring relationships including traditional, peer, group, and reverse mentoring where a younger person mentors someone older. Each type has a multitude of benefits, and the importance of mentorship runs deep as most people who are successful didn’t get there on their own – they had guidance or leadership from at least one or more individuals.
Dr. Ruth Gotian says in her book Financial Times Guide to Mentoring: A complete guide to effective mentoring, “Those who are mentored outperform and get promoted more often than those who don’t,” and that mentees are “five times more likely to get promoted.”
If a promotion wasn’t reason enough, here are some of the other ways a mentor can help you grow. They can advise you on a better career path from a basic level to a senior level and the steps to take to get there. They can protect you and create a safe space for you to pursue your interests; Coach you by staying on the sidelines and giving guidance when necessary or perhaps challenge you to push yourself to the limit and give you the critical feedback you need. Another duty as a mentor can be to connect you professionally or socially with people who can help advance your career. If you are new to your field or your company, having a mentor who can clarify for you the organization’s culture and policies can help you progress there rapidly. Affirmers are mentors who help you overcome hard situations through counseling and gain self-confidence by reaffirming your decisions. The very best mentors may even sponsor you in your business ventures.
You might be thinking that if you aren’t far along in your career or in a leadership role you shouldn’t be a mentor; however, everyone has something to bring to the table and different experiences and views to share. Being a peer mentor can be just as valuable. You might also be thinking that if you are far along in your career that you do not need a mentor, that is also false. Even CEO’s need mentors. Vistage is a group specifically designed for CEO mentorship and has local chapters all over the country. Regardless of whether you are at the peak of your career, there is always room for improvement and to be exposed to different perspectives.
Chances are there may already be someone in your life that you have imagined as a mentor, and it can be as simple as asking them to engage in this relationship in a more formal capacity. In fact, studies say 61% of mentoring relationships happen organically. Keep in mind that they may not have the time to commit to a mentorship arrangement but more than likely they will be honored that you asked and be happy to share their wisdom with you. This could be a manager or colleague at work or from any other aspect of your life. It is recommended that you have mentors within your organization and outside of it. Individuals who have a whole team of mentors are found to be the most successful. Choose a team of mentors that complement each other, bring different perspectives and help you develop different skills that you are missing. As your career grows and so do you, you may need to look for different mentors to meet your changing needs. Mentors from your early years can become great friends and colleagues later in life as well!
Whether you want to find a mentor or become a mentor, there are tons of resources out there to help you get started. MENTOR is a non-profit who sponsors National Mentorship Month and although they are primarily focused on youth mentorship have a variety of toolkits that can be great resources. Many professional associations, like SHRM, have mentorship programs through their local chapters. Another option could be your current employer. Does your company offer a mentor program? If not, it is worth considering as there are a multitude of benefits and an astonishing 98% of Fortune 500 companies have established official mentoring programs. Organizations can provide one, several, or all the mentorship types listed above and can expect to have higher employee retention and engagement rates, better company culture, enhanced skill development, improved DEI and stronger internal pipelines for succession planning. By embracing the power mentorship, we can improve the lives of humans both in and out of work and create lasting change for mentors and mentees alike.
Sources:
10 types of mentoring: Description, benefits, and uses (2024). 10 Types of Mentoring: Description, Benefits, and Uses (2024). (2023, December 5). https://www.tenthousandcoffees.com/blog/types-of-mentoring
Gotian, R., & Lopata, A. (2024). The Financial Times Guide to mentoring: A complete guide to effective mentoring. Pearson.
Taylor, E. (2024, December 27). What are the different types of mentoring? The Knowledge Academy – Online certification training courses provider. https://www.theknowledgeacademy.com/blog/different-types-of-mentoring/
Zucker, R. (2024, July 10). The 4 types of mentors and the best kind of mentoring relationships. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/rebeccazucker/2024/07/08/types-of-mentors-and-ideal-mentoring-relationships/
By Lauren Cromie, courtesy of SBAM-approved partner, ASE.
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