About Careers

Personal Coaching: Do You Need A Mentor?

May 3rd, 2008

A mentor can provide valuable assistance to anyone who is just starting a career. This is especially true for someone who knows little about corporate bureaucracy. A mentor can help a person master the red tape which is found in many career fields and can ease one’s assimilation into the work force. A good mentor will enhance your career experience.

Many companies these days offer a comprehensive training package for their new employees, though these programs don’t really help you build up a network of associates. A network is a tried and true way to succeed in the business world. Managers who deliberately keep themselves out of the loop run the risk of being on the sidelines when promotion time comes. This may simply be due to the fact that their accomplishments go unnoticed. Having a network can get you the recognition you deserve.

So how does one build this informal network? The first step belongs to your mentor. Look for a mentor who has been with the company a long time and knows their way within the company. Some people aren’t comfortable speaking to those in upper management. If you find someone at that level, then that’s great! If the company has a hierarchical structure, then speaking to your peers may be the better choice. Be sure to choose a mentor that is one level above you in the company structure for they will be your liaison to the upper management employees.

Some people have more difficulty finding and maintaining a mentor. The best way to accomplish this is to make yourself available to others in your company so that they can get acquainted with you. Attend company social functions. Make a point of taking a walk through the company break room occasionally and stop and visit with people who are there. You don’t have to be the world’s best conversationalist, but you do need to try to talk with people you might not meet otherwise. Social networking can be the most effective means of making business connections.

After getting to know the others in your company you should have a firm idea of the types of personalities with whom you will mesh well and those you won’t. You should also be able to figure out who will give you the best personal coaching. Try and also figure out the informal network that already exists within the company. If you can find the company “connector” (that is the person who knows many other people and who is connecting others with like interests) get to know them as they tend to make the best type of mentor and can further your career.

After you’ve decided on a mentor, it’s your responsibility to touch base with them one or more times a month. Keep them apprised of the work you’ve been doing. Fill them in on big things that are happening in your personal life. Try to build a friendly relationship without being too pushy. The closer the relationship you develop with your mentor, and the better feel they have for what you’re wanting to accomplish, the easier it is for them to give you the personal coaching you need to succeed.

Most companies have comprehensive training for new employees, but this would not assist you in building an informal network. Experts agree that informal networks are the key to excelling in the business world. Young managers may find themselves shut out when it comes to promotion times if they do not connect to others and simply do their assigned tasks. How do you build a network? Find a mentor, someone who can provide you with personal coaching. Be sure that your mentor has been working with the company for quite some time now and knows who is who and what is what.

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