12th Apr, 2008

Making the Mentor Connection

Mentoring isn’t new. What is new is that it’s more important as a career tool for senior managers than it was in the past.

The old theory about mentoring was that it was a stage you went through and eventually outgrew as your career advanced. This is no longer true. At the higher rungs of the corporate ladder, career paths are more complicated, pointing up the benefits of either having a mentor or acting as one.

Realizing the importance of mentoring, a number of prominent companies (Johnson & Johnson, Merrill Lynch, Bell Labs, National Cash Register) have established formal mentoring programs. Bright managerial prospects are assigned a mentor rather than having them go through the accidental, often serendipitous, process of finding one on their own.

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Why Mentoring Is so Important Now

In an uncertain corporate environment, it is an excellent way to encourage and tap creativity. The mentor can create a safe harbor so that a protégé can develop new ideas. It also encourages idea- bouncing, which often leads to innovation.

Mentors can also bend the organization’s rules so that protégés can test their wings and realize their potential at the same time.

It is beneficial in cross-cultural corporations. Example: the growing number of Japanese companies operating in the U.S. The mentor acts as a bridge between these two cultures, facilitating the learningof customs, rules and protocol, benefitting both the mentor and protégé.

Political leverage. Working with other managers, the protégé can provide the mentor with valuable information from above and below. Similarly, the mentor can open up important political doors for the protégé.

Get Yourself Picked

How do you find a mentor if your company doesn’t have a program? The operative word is visibility, which can be accomplished by:

1. Getting assigned to projects where you can contribute your talents.

2. Writing reports. If there are none in the offing, volunteer for some when the opportunity arises. When they’re completed, hand deliver them. Constant interaction is vital for establishing a comfortable rapport with a potential mentor.

3. Asking questions. It’s an excellent way to make yourself known and air your ideas and opinions.

There are many drawbacks to mentoring. The mentor you find may not be the best teacher for you or your mentor may fall out of favor with senior management, taking you out, too. Here are some suggestions for avoiding these traps:

When looking for a mentor, know what you want from the relationship. Then hold prospective mentors up to certain criteria. What do they hope to gain from the relationship in terms of work and political goals? How strong are their alliances?

Are these people good teachers and motivators? Some mentors will oversee your career but do little to enhance your knowledge of the job. At some point, you’ll have to stand by yourself.

Might you pose a threat to your mentor? Some people are very good when they’re mentoring several levels down the organization, but when a protégé begins to draw even, new rules come into play. Try to find out how your mentor treated other protégés who have worked closely with him or her.

Managing the Mentor

Never burn bridges between you and the organization. Don’t assume that you’re protected by the mentor or part of that person’s group. You’re still a low person on the organizational chart. No matter how good your relationship with your mentor, be wary of a false sense of security.

In the course of the relationship with your mentor, ask if your goals are really being met. If not, why not?

Maintain your alliances. Avoid factions and establish good relationships with everyone. Avoid political hassles.

If your situation is not improving after the first year in a mentor relationship, consider finding a new mentor. This can be accomplished diplomatically by gradually easing into a new relationship, thus painlessly loosening your tie with your former mentor. This is far wiser than making a hasty break of some kind.

More Help'n Tips: career, mentor, mentoring, political, prot, relationship.

Posted by: arlene

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