The Mentorship Mindset: 3 Helpful Tips for Effective Mentorship

If you want to establish your career to be 5 times more likely to receive raises and secure a 20% increase in job security, then mentorship is the strategy for success. Those statistics are for both the mentor and the mentee. Sun Microsystems, a California technology company, conducted a study on the value of mentoring and the results reflected those benefits. It also revealed mentors are promoted slightly more than mentees, and mentees have a higher percentage of job security. 

In honor of National Mentoring Month, we are sharing 3 tips for establishing the most effective mentorship experience. 

Tip #1: Clarity

Mentees
You may not have the exact idea of what you want to accomplish early in your career, but not having a goal could leave you moving in place. The fastest way to get to success is to define what success is for you. When you understand what you are trying to accomplish, it allows others to know how they can assist your efforts. If you aren't clear on your goals, your mentor may be unsure of how to guide you and opt out of a mentoring relationship. Once you have set a goal, the highest clarity you can achieve is to recognize WHY you want to accomplish that goal. Your “why” will act as your motivation when life’s challenges arise.

Mentors
You should also establish goals for the mentorship. Your goals may be contingent on the goals of the mentee, but you should always clarify what you want to accomplish from the interaction. Your clarity will help you tailor the mentorship to quantify your impact. If your mentee has not clarified their goals or intention for the mentoring relationship, use your first sessions to guide them through that process. If you do not have the capacity for the foundational mentorship, please refer the mentee to someone else or resources to support them.

Tip #2: Accountability

Mentees
The only person guaranteed to meet your goals is you, so you must take full responsibility for your success. Your mentor will come with a wealth of knowledge and experience to share with you. Preparing for each mentoring session with something you would like to learn will help enrich your experience. A mentor may view a lack of initiative as an indication of low clarity and motivation. If you are not passionate about your success, then others will believe they shouldn’t be either. Passion is contagious in the right environment. In no way does this mean you have to have everything figured out. Just make sure you are not waiting for someone else to do your work.

Mentors
If initiative is key for mentees then integrity is key for mentors. You must establish trust and show yourself as a positive example for the mentee to follow. A compromised integrity can lead to a loss of respect and trust. Begin your mentoring relationship with clear expectations. It is important to get to know your mentee to understand if there are underlying issues impacting the experience. Provide them with strategies to assist their development; boundaries to guide the interactions; and consequences to correct the issues. The structure you provide during the mentorship experience is a transferable skill that mentees will be able to model in other areas of their lives.

Tip #3: Opportunity

Mentees
Comfortability is the enemy of progress. The biggest hindrance to your mentorship experience is to have a closed minded approach to guidance and new connections. You have to be open to the wisdom of the mentor and position yourself for networking. Mentors may challenge you, which may be uncomfortable, but the challenge will produce the opportunity for growth. Networking may be intimidating but it could lead to an opportunity you would not have crossed paths with otherwise. See your mentorship as an opportunity to open many doors to your success.

Mentors
Being a mentor is an opportunity to refine your leadership skills, develop fresh perspectives for your industry and build a legacy of impact. It also positions you to expand your network through the mentee. It may not materialize immediately, but the person you mentor today could be a career opportunity in the future. The quality of the mentorship experience can open doors to expanded success through your mentee.

Bonus: The Privilege

Mentorship comes in many forms, but the consistent factor is the privilege it affords the mentor and the mentee. The honor to learn from someone else reduces the learning curve and accelerates the path to success. The distinction of inspiring others through your journey and expertise is a humbling recognition of your contribution to your industry. Mentorship is valuable and should always be implemented and respected.

Many people are encouraged to find a mentor but not given the tools for mentorship. Some people have a heart to give back to the next generation but are unsure of the strategies to lead them to success.

Next Great Architects a resource for supporting those in their pursuit of architecture and design.  If you are looking for a mentorship, but unsure of how to approach mentoring; first, check out our previous mentoring blog, Mentoring in Architecture. Next, grab a Mentoring Journal to help organize your mentorship experiences. Then take full ownership of your mentorships by managing and documenting your professional development. 

Too many people are missing out on the opportunity to advance their careers. Our journal has helped people manage their mentorships as both mentors and mentees simultaneously. 

Imagine how that can impact your professional development. Imagine how efficient mentorship experiences can be. Grab a mentor journal for yourself and gift one to your mentee. Happy Mentoring!

Do you need help asking someone to be your mentor?

Click HERE to get the FREE Mentor Request Checklist.

Next Great Architects is an award-winning teaching studio that introduces architecture to students as early as kindergarten and nurtures them through college and licensure. Contact us if you are interested in bringing our programs to your children, schools, or organizations.