Your Personal Support System – Part 1: Senior Mentors

We all need a little help in our growing journey, however sometimes what we need isn’t always a  “what” but a“who.” But –  are there really Who’s out there that you can tap into when you need advice, brainstorming sessions or constructive support? And do these “who’s” actually help you become the best version of yourself? In my experience, yes! In this post I’m going to share the types of mentors I’ve had throughout my career that I found extremely important for my growth.

First, it’s important to note that not all mentors will stay with you for extended periods and that’s OK! Some might be in your circle of support for a specific reason or challenge you are facing, whereas some may stay in your circle for a longer period.  As you move throughout your growth journey, you will likely find that most of your mentors only fulfill some of your mentoring needs.

Your Job:

1. Identify what your goals are for the mentoring engagement (e.g., developing your career goals or working with a challenging peer or leader)
2. Determine the type of mentor you are looking for (Senior Leader Mentor, Peer Mentor, Reverse Mentor)
3. Consider if someone in your professional circle would make a great mentor.
4. Set a personal commitment to yourself to be vulnerable and action any takeaways that might come from your mentoring sessions

Mentors come in all forms, from informal, to formally assigned.  Internal (within your company) or external.  Many companies run formal mentorship programs for their employees, and many accredited associations or foundations offer mentorship programs for a fee. Each option offers you exposure to different types of mentors that you may not normally have access to.  The wealth of information these types of mentors  share is invaluable.

So, how do you find mentors?:

1. Look to see if your organization has a mentorship program – if they do – SIGN-UP! EVERY YEAR!  You will likely  be assigned a new mentor each year, which will offer you exposure and networking opportunities across your organization
2. Ask your leader or Human Resources Partner if there are leaders who are potential mentor options. Get specific on the area you are looking to focus on.  If they know someone that might be a good fit – ask if they will make the initial introduction for you, which reduces your vulnerability scale tremendously.
3. Ask a trusted colleague or professor (if in school) if they can recommend someone
4. Look at people in your organization that you admire tell them the qualities that you admire about them and ask them if they would be interested in being your mentor
5. Look at organizations and foundations, like WIL, who offer Mentorship programs

My experience with mentors:

• I’ve had many mentors, both formally and informally – and as Patty Azzarello suggests in her book Rise, “Don’t be too selective – the more, the merrier.”
• I’ve gained valuable insights and advice from each mentor who has helped shape the leader I am today
• I focus on mentors that can support me in critical areas of improvement, and since that one and only unicorn mentor has not found me yet, I have many unique humans that I proudly call my mentors
• I share my goals, challenges, and areas I want to improve on and my wins with my mentors as a result of their support
• I value my mentors’ time, their support and their experience, and I strive to live up to their vision for me, which is the best version of myself

My experience being a mentor:

• I am currently a mentor to many great humans at my company, both formally and informally (some of them used to be part of a team I led)
• I have also given back to my MBA program at Royal Roads and mentored an excellent leader there
• I have chosen to offer mentorship to some individuals that were not successful in roles I have recruited for because I saw something in them and that just needed a tiny tweak for them to be unique and find the career opportunities they were looking for
• I am also a formal mentor as part of the Women In Leadership Foundation Mentorship Program – the caliber of women mentors and mentees is beyond amazing and very powerful
• I love being a mentor because I continue to  learn and explore my leadership practices due to  my time with these fantastic humans – and if any of these fantastic humans are reading this, THANK YOU for letting me be part of your journey. I am truly honoured

When considering a mentor, the mentoring style must work for you. Not all mentors tackle their engagements the same way, so if the technique does not resonate with you, say thank you for your time and find someone who fits your learning and sharing style more. Trust me, you will thank yourself for this decision.

My mentoring style:

• I am a less formal mentor  in the way of  meeting schedules, agendas, action items, etc.  I find life gets in the way and mentees may have something pressing that comes up that we should explore
  • That said, I don’t disregard agendas completely.  They help if there is some investigation that I can do before we meet, but I am good with flipping topics so my mentee can get the most out of our time together
• I blend coaching and mentoring into my sessions with my mentees to help them grow in areas that they are seeking support on
• I learn just as much from my mentee as they do from my experiences – I always seek to gain new learnings or insights from them
• Through the trust and connection I build with my mentees, I am constantly scanning my network to see if there are other connections or experiences I can bring to them
• I am always out to help them be the best versions of themselves – whatever that means for them
• My mentees drive their careers – I help share insights, experiences, wins/fails, and ideas that they can take or leave based on their desired outcomes
• Lastly, I strive to help push them out of their comfort zone – again for the sole purpose of them being incredible and successful in their career journey

Now that I have shared my experiences with mentorship, how to find them and some insight into my mentoring style, step out of your comfort zone and seek a mentor who supports you in becoming the best version of yourself – one mentor at a time.

Stay tuned for the next post in the Your Personal Support System Series – Part 2: Peer Mentors.

Connect with Penny on LinkedIn or check out www.theizzyway.ca for more of her collection of blog posts