Leveling Up Your Career with Mentors
“I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept” — Angela Davis
In our individualistic society, many young and established professionals rely on themselves to build and grow their careers. They equip themselves with education, experience, research, and preparation. And while those attributes are essential for success, the reality is, despite our best efforts, they’re typically not enough to grow our careers.
In our workshop, The Professional’s Secret Weapon, Sandra Hunter, Owner of Wild Women Leaders of Color, explained that mentorship is your superpower. To level up and accelerate your growth, you need a “professional team”. And that team starts with a mentor.
What is a mentor?
A mentor is a person, whether inside your organization or outside of it, who has some level of interest and investment in your success. They’re typically further along in their careers, may hold different kinds of power they can use to benefit you, and are willing to share knowledge and expertise to help you along your career path.
Mentors can help influence your professional growth, teach you how to advocate for yourself, help nurture your confidence, and help you stay focused.
So why do you need one? Well, statistics have shown that young and established professionals who receive mentorship have a steeper and faster career trajectory than those who don’t. Mentors help you make better decisions that align with your goals, avoid costly mistakes, and even become more effective and efficient in your roles.
Finding a mentor
The best time to look for a mentor is right now. Regardless of where you are in your career, you can benefit from mentorship. But before you get started on your search, there are a few things you can do to ensure you’re being intentional and strategic as you build and grow your mentor/mentee relationship.
Prepare for mentorship. Before you start looking for a mentor, take some time to lay a little groundwork. Begin by thinking about your future. Consider where you want to be in 2 - 5 years and what paths you’re interested in to get there. It’s also helpful to think about the kind of mentor you want. Internal mentors within your organization know the company well, understand your challenges, and can introduce you to sponsors. However, company bias and a vested interest inside the organization can cloud their feedback. While an external mentor doesn’t know your organization well and may need more information on your challenges, they can provide unbiased feedback and evaluation. Each has its pros and cons, but the key for you is figuring out which one best aligns with your goals.
Find your mentor. Once you have a solid understanding of where you want to go and what kind of mentor you want, it’s time to start your search. As you scope out potential mentors, think about people who have an interest or investment in your success. They should be experienced, open, and willing to share. You also want a mentor who has the potential to introduce you to a sponsor — someone who can give you access to spaces you may not be able to enter on your own. This is where internal mentors can be particularly helpful, but external mentors should be able to advise and strategize on how to find sponsors as well.
Nurture your mentor relationship. Once you have a mentor, that’s when the work begins! Set clear goals for yourself and what you want to achieve through mentorship. Be ready, receptive, and open to feedback. Be proactive in seeking meaningful conversations and guidance from your mentor. You also want to begin preparing yourself for sponsorship by documenting your projects and achievements, building a portfolio of your work, and showcasing your value to your sponsor and your organization.
Remember, mentorship is your superpower. There’s no reason you should or have to go about the work of building your career alone. And it’s also important to remember, as Untapped Leaders, that mentorship is cyclical. Use mentorship to accelerate your career. Meet sponsors who can give you access to spaces. And become a mentor and sponsor for other young professionals as you grow.