Career Development

by Karen Adamedes

We’ve previously talked about the importance of mentors and that they can be a valuable career asset. Mentors can provide knowledge, guidance on your career, access to networks, and honest, valuable feedback. Or they might simply be a sounding board – to discuss how you handled a situation or how you should tackle something in the future.

The question is who could be a mentor for you? And how on earth do you ask them to help you?

Here’s 3 potential people who could be suitable mentor targets for you. And suggested approaches you could make to them:

Mentor Target 1: Someone you know

If you approach someone you have an established relationship with you can get straight to a discussion about the area that you are seeking help with. You don’t even have to formally ask them to be your mentor – you can get straight down to business.

Here are a couple of approaches you could try:

“I’m currently working on improving my (insert your skill of choice), and I was wondering if we could catch-up so I could ask you a few questions about how you…? Given that I work from home but still want to work on developing my skills I’d really appreciate if we could have a call about…”

And another:

“It’s been really helpful when we’ve talked previously about xyz; I have a few career options that I’m weighing up and I wonder if you’d have time for a call?”

Who could resist? These approaches cover why you want some of their valuable time and how they can help. If you ask in this way and do get turned down, usually it will be for a genuine reason, such as time or work pressures. Not because they don’t want to help you. At the very least you will have represented yourself as a professional who is serious about your career.

If they agree, it could be a one-off conversation regarding the issue you approach them about, or the beginning of a longer term mentoring relationship.

You don’t have to formally ask if the person will mentor you. A follow-up thank-you call, a second meeting… you start to build a relationship by catching up regularly, and before you know it: you’ve got them. (As a mentor that is!)

Mentor Target 2: Your manager who is moving on

If your manager (or a colleague) is moving on to a new opportunity, you have a good rapport, and there are things you would still like to learn from them, formalize a mentoring relationship so you can stay in touch. I once had a manager resign six weeks after I took a job specifically so I could work with them (sigh…), but we remained in contact for many years, and I still had the opportunity to learn from her.

“I am so pleased you have this opportunity. But I’ll miss the chance to work with you and learn more about your approach to XYZ. Do you think you might be able to continue working with me on this as a mentor?”

Formalizing your relationship before they walk out the door makes it legitimate for you to keep in contact even if they’re up to their necks in their new role. They will remember the commitment they made to you.

Mentor Target 3: Someone you don’t know (well)

It’s probably best to have some vague association with the person and not just randomly approach senior managers trying to land a mentor. This association – whether you work in the same organization or business unit, someone has recommended you to approach them, or you have a work issue in common – whatever it is, is your introduction as to why you are getting in touch and will allow you to establish your credibility.

Once you have done this, proceed as you would with someone you know better, explaining why you want to speak to them, what you are trying to learn, and how you think they can help. People will be flattered when you ask for their help. The type of person that you are likely to want to learn from is usually the type of person who wants to help.

The worst thing that can happen is that they say no and you are no worse off. Just ask. As long as you do so professionally, there is no reason not to give it a go!

A mentor will take you, and your request to work with them, seriously if you can describe where you are in your career, work or business and what you want to learn and why. You need to assure them that you are serious and seeking their help for the right reasons. They will also want to know that you are genuinely interested in and committed to the process.

Mentors are a key asset in advancing your skills, knowledge, and career development. Unlike other opportunities that are not as readily accessible when you work from home, a mentor is only a phone call away.

Get one.

 

 

 

 

This tip is based on Tip 76 ‘Get a mentor‘ from Professional in Pajamas: 101 Tips for Working from Home.

by Karen Adamedes

You probably want your career to keep developing even though you are working from home? There is no reason why it should stagnate and that you can’t be working towards your goals, just because you are not working out of someone else’s office. And certainly no reason why you can’t be working with a mentor.

Ongoing career development is important so that you have choices for your future. Choices about where you work, who you work for, and the kind of work you do. There are a number of things you can do to be working on your career – even if you are in lockdown. Working with a mentor is one of the easiest. And most helpful.

Developing you career

Obviously you need to be good at your job to advance your career. In fact, you need to be the very best at your job that you can. But that is unlikely to be enough in the madcap world of business targets, customer demands, and busy schedules. Nor is being dedicated, working long hours or leaping over small buildings in a single bound!

You need the skills to communicate who you are, what you do, and the contributions that you make.

You need to be able to sell your ideas for others to understand your contributions and appreciate the value that you bring to your role.

And you also need the skills to be effective in your work, to build a professional reputation, and to proactively manage your career so that you are able to make the best choices and negotiate the best outcomes for you.

A mentor can help you develop all of these skills.

What is a mentor?

Originating from Greek mythology you’ll hear the term mentor used today in various situations, including business, sport and education. Whatever the circumstances, a mentor describes someone knowledgeable, skilled or experienced who can provide guidance to someone who wants to develop in the mentor’s field of expertise.

A mentor isn’t necessarily an older or more senior person in an organization’s hierarchy. For instance, when you change company or career it’s very likely that people younger than you will have more expertise. Or if you are looking to master some new piece of technology, your best bet may be a teenage mentor who can quickly figure it out. (I confess I had to defer to my teenage nieces to help me with my Instagram account!)

Why are they essential?

Mentors are a secret weapon in career and personal development. They are absolutely essential to your career when you work from home.

They are important to help you stay in touch with what is happening outside of your own four walls and benchmark your skills and expertise.

A mentor can provide you with a broader perspective on many aspects of your work, career, and options. A mentoring relationship can provide you with feedback, fresh ideas, approaches, knowledge, expertise, and advice.

A mentor can provide you with:

• knowledge
• guidance on your career, an organization’s internal politics, the market and your skills or communication style (to name just a few areas)
• a sounding board – to discuss how you handled a situation or how you should tackle something in the future
• access to networks, and
• honest, valuable feedback.

Where’s the proof?

The benefits are numerous and invaluable to help you reach your potential, whatever your field or current level of achievement.

Oprah mentored ‘Dr. Phil’. Michael Jordan, Roger Federer, and David Beckham have all acknowledged their mentors as being important to their success. Any top achiever you can think of will have had a mentor or coach – someone to guide, counsel and provide advice. Someone who can look at their performance, provide a different perspective, and advise strategies.

It’s the same in business. Leaders from all types of backgrounds credit one or several mentors for their guidance along the way. Entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson of Virgin brand fame acknowledges Sir Frederick Laker, a British airline entrepreneur, as his mentor, and the late Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendy’s hamburger chain, was mentored for many years by KFC’s Harland “Colonel” Sanders.

The fact that these famous, talented and successful people made use of the skills and expertise of others illustrates that having a mentor is a legitimate, not to mention successful, strategy to develop your career.

A career asset

Mentors are a key asset in advancing your skills, knowledge, and career development. Unlike other opportunities that are not as readily accessible when you work from home, a mentor is only a phone call away. Get one.

Next blog, we’ll explore some options for identifying and approaching potential mentors. In the meantime have a think about who you admire and would love to work with on your career.

Dream Big!

 

 

 

 

This tip is based on Tip 76 ‘Get a mentor‘ from Professional in Pajamas: 101 Tips for Working from Home.

 

by Karen Adamedes

Keeping in touch ensures that you stay ‘top of mind’ when you work from home. This is particularly important with time-poor managers and clients who must make decisions in a hurry or when they are under pressure. You want them to think about you! For your career to develop or your client list to grow it’s essential that you are visible.

It’s important to be ‘top of mind’

Being top of mind, or at least remembered, when there are opportunities can be important to being successful in your work. Office-based associates, who may have greater access to people and information, or those who have a higher profile may be thought of first. This is important to consider when you work at home. But it is just as important for those who are working from an office or business.

Staying in contact with colleagues, clients, and your network helps them remember you when it comes to new opportunities. It can also keep you informed about things you need to know to do your job. Staying top of mind will help your achievements be recognized and build your profile and reputation. Both of which will be helpful to the achievement of your business and career objectives.

How it helps

If others know about you, what you do and what you are capable of, there’s more chance that you’ll be on their radar when decisions are being made about resources, promotions, bonuses or new business.

Your reputation is your most valuable career asset. To build it up, you need to remind others (or in fact let them know) that you exist, the good work you are doing and how you would help them.

Tips to build your profile

So how do you step out from behind your excellent work to build your profile and become top of mind?

Some ideas include:

• • being available
  • checking in regularly
  • staying in touch with your manager
  • using video to stay in touch so people can see your smiling face
  • picking up the phone to call
  • taking time to build rapport
  • going to the office (sometimes it it’s safe)

These all provide opportunities to share your achievements, connect with people, and get involved. Most of all they can help you build all-important relationships. These tips will be the topics of future blogs to give you some ideas.

Keep in touch with people and stay top of mind. All from the comfort of your own home!

Enjoy your day (and call someone!)

 

 

 

 

This tip is based on ‘Keep in Touch…how to stay top of mind‘ from Professional in Pajamas: 101 Tips for Working from Home.