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A Mentor: Climb the Corporate Ladder with Some Guidance
Your best friend will always tell you the truth. Think of a time when you avoided stepping right into a huge, emotionally messy situation because a great friend pulled you aside. This type of friend offers sage advice and encouragement, while also celebrating your accomplishments.
Well, a mentor does all of these things in your professional life, just as your BFF does in your personal life.
First, a few cold, hard facts about the business world, in a nutshell: there is a saying that “what got you here won’t get you there.” Which is to say, when you were in college, you may have been led to believe that the workplace is a meritocracy. I was told, “Study hard and gain skills; know your stuff; put in the hours and you will have amazing career success.” This was not exactly wrong…but a huge part was left unsaid.
The fact is, in addition to all of the above, you will find that you need to go along to get along. You need to appear to be the person the upper management sees as an executive. You are being watched and your every interaction noticed. Details matter hugely.
Let me share a few kernels of wisdom from the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association’s EDGE in Leadership study: Senior executives take performance as a given. It is fully expected that you already have the operational skills, on a daily basis, needed to propel your company to success. So, what other factors do they consider, when deciding whom to promote? The people with strong interpersonal skills. How do you get the skills you need? One of the best ways is to participate in a corporate mentoring program.
The Pivotal Power of Mentoring
“You will grow personally and professionally, if you call on mentors who can offer you guidance in different ways,” says Charlotte Sibley, MBA, an HBA Woman of the Year and president of Sibley Associates, LLC. “One mentor might focus on your career development, another can serve as your go-to person from a functional standpoint, and another might be right for you because your personality styles mesh well. As you change and develop throughout your career, and re-evaluate your goals, your mentoring needs also will change. You may even need to “retire” a mentor at some point.”
Laurie Cooke, RPh, CAE, my boss and the CEO of the HBA, was named Mentor of the Year by the American Society of Association Executives. Laurie offers this advice on what to look for in a mentor:
- Experience. A mentor doesn’t have to be the CEO to be effective. But, she should be experienced—and successful—in your key growth areas.
- Honesty. A good mentor should provide honest feedback—even when you don’t want to hear it. Remember, you’re looking for someone to help you grow—and that means tackling the areas where you need the most work.
- An open ear. A good mentor does more than offer advice; she listens to your goals and helps you find the right path.
- Time. Successful mentoring takes a commitment to meeting regularly. Make sure both you and your mentor have the time—and commitment—to make it work.
Now go find a mentor. Maybe a handful of them. Cultivate that relationship and propel yourself to career success!
17TAGS: career HBA
