Tech professionals are increasingly relying on mentors to acquire the skills, knowledge and perspectives to boost their career prospects.
Recent studies show why the demand for mentoring is high and continuing to increase. Professionals with mentors are promoted more often, advance their careers faster, and earn more than their non-mentored peers.
However mentors who possess highly valuable knowledge and expertise have a lot of demands on their time. Frankly, most mentors are so busy, they simply can’t respond to texts or calls at a moment’s notice.
Ultimately, it is up to the mentee to take advantage of the opportunities provided. Here are some general pointers for obtaining the maximum value from your relationships and the time spent with mentors.
Advocate for Yourself
Being mentored by someone who is tops in their field or at a senior level can feel like a power imbalance, conceded Jodi Petersen, VP of customer experience for Chronus, a provider of mentoring software.
However, you need to gather enough courage to take the lead. It’s the mentee’s job to initiate a discussion about the guidelines for the relationship, the boundaries and expectations as well as your specific goals and the type of advice you want to receive. Ask yourself:
- What are you hoping to get out of the relationship?
- What are the benefits for you and your mentor?
- How will you measure your progress and success?
Advocating for yourself is the key to getting what you want from a mentoring relationship. Unfortunately, many mentors don’t have the bandwidth to take on another mentee. Being strategic about who you select and the value they can offer can make someone more eager to mentor you noted Japhlet Nwamu, cloud advocate for Microsoft and beneficiary of mentoring.
For instance, asking a mentor to describe their successes and failures when they’ve faced similar challenges including what worked and what didn’t, can help you get more out of 15-minute meetings. Self-reflection and transparency can also help the mentor build trust and learn from their experiences.
Mentoring relationships that don’t have a set goal, structure or purpose often digress into chats over coffee Petersen warned. Having quantifiable metrics and time-bound goals makes it easier to see if the investment that both parties are making is worthwhile and beneficial.
Embrace the Flipped Classroom Model
Dr. Taniya Mishra, founder and CEO of SureStart, recommends using the flipped classroom model to obtain the maximum value from your time spent with mentors.
In the flipped classroom, mentees research a specific topic and learn as much as they can beforehand so that meetings and calls can be used to apply knowledge, problem-solve and discuss potential solutions.
Respect your mentor’s time. Email them a list of questions or the things you want to know in advance. Outlining the issues, the sources you’ve tapped and the solutions you’re considering can give your mentor insight into your thinking rather than just giving them the problem. This can lead to a more productive conversation and ensure that you use your time efficiently.
“Limit the number of things you want advice on to three or less,” Mishra added. You may only be able to meet with your mentor monthly or quarterly so it's essential to be very clear and specific about what you want to learn or cover during that time.
Once you ask questions, sit back and listen. Saying less and hearing more makes the mentor feel valued and helps you understand and retain knowledge.
Finally, always leave five minutes at the end of the meeting for follow-up questions and to set the next steps. Leaving a meeting or discussion with a clear set of defined steps and tasks is the key to moving forward and reaching your goals more consistently.
Track Your Progress
Be sure to evaluate your progress every few months. Mentoring relationships do not need to last for years. They can be effective even if they are short-term, depending on your specific needs and goals.
If your progress has stalled, the two of you can decide how to work towards an unmet goal or if reaching out to someone with expertise in a specific area or a different perspective might be beneficial.
Be Accountable to Each Other
Establishing mutual commitments, responsibility and accountability is the key to a meaningful and productive relationship.
Both mentors and mentees should expect follow-through from each other on their word and commitments.
Acknowledge and Reciprocate
Always convey your gratitude to your mentor both publicly and privately. For example, it is a good idea to recognize their efforts on LinkedIn and to email their manager noting how their work positively impacted you and by extension your team and the company.
Whether your mentor’s guidance and suggestions were ultimately helpful and led to a positive outcome, or you decided to go in a different direction, you should always send a note thanking them for their time and advice.
If you decline to accept their advice, start by explaining the factors you considered and why you opted for an alternative path or solution. Showing gratitude and respect will make your mentor feel valued and appreciated, regardless of the outcome.
After the third or fourth call with a mentor, Nwamu always asks: “What can I do to provide value to you?” His commitment to reciprocity has led to joint projects with his mentor that they were able to showcase together. And ultimately, a position on an advocacy team.
When you offer reciprocal value to your mentor, they are more willing to spend time with you he said. In today's world, the time spent with mentors can be incredibly valuable.
