In many organizations that have a ladder of promotion steps, career development is a very visible path that leads to success. But have you also thought of career development in the context of the individual job and career? Is development of an individuals career necessary if they stay in the same position for multiple years?
The answer to the last question is a resounding yes. The best tool to build the development of a career is through mentoring. A mentor is normally an experienced co-worker who is in a position of influence and who is interested in furthering the career development of an employee. In many ways the employee becomes the mentor's protege.
Mentors come in many sizes, they share their knowledge about the organization that may take years to acquire. Their organizational knowledge may include unwritten company practices, managerial quirks, polices that safely may be ignored and other rules that must be obeyed to the letter.
Mentors act as sponsors and widen the exposure of their proteges.
This networking process can be inviting them to lunch with managers in other departments, being asked to work on special committees or other projects where they can display their talents. Mentors are there to support and they have a sense of personal concern for their proteges and feel responsible in assisting them.
A good mentors listens actively, provides empathic support, and encourages proteges to develop problem-solving skills. They also comment on innovative ideas that proteges are reluctant to propose through official channels.
When mentors work in the same area as their proteges, they can observe the protege's attitude, their work with others and other interpersonal skills.
This provides opportunities for constructive criticism. Some mentors play the role of devil's advocate, confronting and challenging their proteges. The latter are receptive to this type of coaching because they know their mentors are really on their side.
For a mentor to be effective, however, they must be respected for certain attributes. Proteges consciously or subconsciously emulate the behavior and attitudes of their mentors.
For your mentor to be effective you should start by asking for advice and always show your appreciation. Be enthusiastic about the help you receive from your mentor but don't expect perfection. Never put your mentor on the spot be pitting them against your immediate supervisor. A mentor can assist but don't become overly dependent on your mentor. Learn to make decision on your own.
If you become a mentor, be honest on what you can and cannot do. If you become uncomfortable in the role the right thing to do is quit or redefines your role.
The mentor can help you greatly in developing your career regardless if the future involves a possible series of promotions or your need for positive horizontal career development. In either case an interested and motivated mentor can be a valuable asset in you career development.
By John Groth
