10 Ways Mentoring Will Help Your Career

Have you ever… Struggled with your next career decision?… Felt your career is more of a coincidence?… Wanted a change, but didn’t know what kind?… Known exactly what you would like to do but didn’t know how to get there?… Wanted a raise?… Wanted to be promoted?… Been promoted, but now what?… Wished to have some inspiration for your career?

If, like me, you answered YES to one or more questions, then congrats! You’re human. Let me ask you one more question: Have you ever considered that you don’t have to figure out your career alone? In this post, I want to take a closer look at the concept of mentoring and how you can benefit from it.

What Is Mentoring?

But first, What is mentoring, you ask? There are dozens of different interpretations currently in use, so its precise definition is rather elusive. Allow me to select one that I find fitting, and let me walk you through my own experience. 

Mentoring is essentially about helping people to develop more effectively. It is a relationship designed to build confidence and support the mentee so they are able to take control of their own development and work.

MMU, Mentoring Guidelines

My Mom Knows a Lot of Things

Throughout my life, I’ve often looked for any sort of wisdom and guidance from my mom. But you know how tricky it can get with parents. Not shockingly, they tend to project their own interests, hopes and expectations onto their children. 

In my last year of university, I had a full-time job in my field of study. I took the decision to focus on the job instead of finishing my thesis. That ultimately left me without a degree.

After eight years, my mom still doesn’t miss an opportunity to ask me when I will finish my studies. “Mom, look at me. I have a job that I like and I’m good at, I have enough money for anything I need. I’m happy. Do you still think that I need a piece of paper to prove that I’m qualified for that?” Stupid question. Of course, the answer is yes.

As much as I would like to make my mom happy, I had to draw a line somewhere… The first two rules of mentoring are: a mentor can’t have an agenda, and they can’t tell you what to do.

Mentoring is not the same as training, teaching or coaching, and a mentor doesn’t need to be a qualified trainer or an expert in the role the mentee carries out. They need to be able to listen and ask questions that will challenge the mentee to identify the course of action they need to take in regards to their own development. 

MMU, Mentoring Guidelines

First Experience with Mentoring

It’s fair to say that my first formal experience with mentoring found me more than I found it. My former employer had a policy that every employee had to have a mentor within the company. Since a mentor can’t have an agenda, it had to be someone from a different office. The company provided some materials on how the relationship should look, but didn’t offer assistance with the pairing. That was up to me.

Well, lucky me that searching for the best person for a job is actually what I do for a living. I did my research and contacted a woman from the office in Amsterdam. And we clicked. We agreed to meet on a call once a month. I would bring up the challenges I ran into, and we’d also discuss my opportunities and options with the company. 

“I’m really enjoying being part of this one cross-office project. How did you manage to be involved in some projects like that?” I’d ask, and she would share her experience and the tricks that worked for her. Her utter and genuine passion for the job eventually made me realize that I needed a change. Sure, I don’t think that that was her intention. But as a mentor, she didn’t get to decide. And I also wanted to feel that same level of excitement for my job.

“The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.” 

Steve Jobs

Bring on the Equilibrium

I then made a leap to a brand new role. My new colleagues introduced me to Equilibrium by the British Chamber of Commerce. It’s a mentoring program for women in business. Oh cool! I thought. But definitely not something I would qualify for. I dismissed it.

“I would like to nominate you for Equilibrium, Tereza,” said the CEO of my company at a meeting this May. “But you will have to go through the application process on your own, of course. Think about it.” That innocent suggestion put me on a mental roller-coaster. 

I went from – I’m definitely not qualified to be in such a senior program, (self-confidence issues) to – Why me? I actually don’t have any ambitions, (such bullshit) to – How do I deserve this?, (self-confidence issues again) to – How could I even benefit from it?

With the last one, I was already heading in a good direction. My colleague Kristin kindly sat down with me and calmed me down. She is a member of the steering committee of Equilibrium and has a rich experience as a mentor and recently also her first mentee experience in the program. She explained to me what Equilibrium is and what it isn’t. Then she left the ball in my court.

And I grabbed it and… scooore! Haha. Well, I applied and got in. But before this whole thing even started, I was forced to ask myself some questions I rarely ask, and confront myself with completely honest answers. So, if I ever wondered how I could benefit from it, those questions I started asking myself were exactly it.

Dream – Dare – Share

Equilibrium BCC

10 Reasons Why Mentoring Is a Great Opportunity for Anyone Who Wants to Enhance Their Career

1. Get guidance on professional development and advancement
2. Expose yourself to new ideas and ways of thinking
3. Learn from the experience of others
4. Bounce off ideas and vent with someone you trust
5. Increase your confidence
6. Increase your self-awareness
7. Become more empowered to make decisions
8. Develop your communication skills
9. Develop strategies for dealing with both personal and work issues
10. Identify goals and establish a sense of direction

Tell Me More, Tell Me More

If you feel intrigued enough to learn more, stay tuned. Next week, I’ll publish the interview with Kristin LaRonca Parpel, an executive coach and consultant. She draws from her own experience and shares with us all there is to know about mentoring. On a personal note, she also reveals how she got to Prague and how she found success in her career.

In the first week of November you can look forward to an expat-friendly mentoring guide. I will provide you with options and tips on how to find a mentor while living in Prague.

Thanks for reading, and if you don’t wanna miss the next post, subscribe below. Hope to see you soon!