Why Having Mentors Can Help Your Career Take Off
Grow your career through the benefits of having mentors.
getty Can you and your career truly benefit from mentors?
Stacy Cassio had this dilemma. Working in a male-dominated industry, she realized that she needed some guidance — strong females with experiences they’d be willing to share to help her grow in her career.
She needed a mentor.
Unfortunately, like so many women, Stacy had a hard time finding someone to look up to. She knew there were women out there who would be willing to share their own experiences with others like her.
But there seemed to be a lack of a space or platform for women to do just this.
It's not always easy to find a professional mentor — but it's always possible.
Stacy’s quest led her to found Pink Mentor Network, a place where women can support one another in a community.
The network’s vision goes beyond the traditional mentor/mentee format. It’s a place where women can deposit what they’ve learned, but also take what they need to develop and grow their own careers and businesses — together.
The Pink Mentor Network is a new model for mentorship — a collective experience that produces solutions through shared experiences.
Let’s face it, women today don’t always have the bandwidth to take on a mentee. But, there's now a new generation of committed and intentional women who have each other’s back!
Women need a mentor and they need to mentor.
And you can benefit from a mentorship, especially if you're just currently in one of these places within your career or business:
Just starting out.
Growing in your career.
Becoming an expert.
Innovating.
Leading others.
Trying to survive.
Ready to get started? Here are 4 ways to get the most out of having mentors in your chosen career.
1. Broaden your network.
Think beyond just one person.
Depending on your needs, you may find that a handful of people make up your mentor team. This can be a result of the level or area of expertise you need at any given time.
Depending on where you are in your career or business, your needs may change. By keeping an open mind and a wider range of contacts, you’ll have the opportunity to reach out to who you need when you need them.
2. Get clarity.
Before reaching out for help, be sure you’re clear about your vision. This is how a mentor can help you get to the next level.
Be warned — this may mean you hit pause and discover what it is you actually want.
This process may not happen overnight and can take months. In the meantime, try new things and meet new people.
Finding someone who is already where you want to be can help tremendously.
And remember — clarity may not happen all at once. That’s OK! As you grow and change, things change.
3. Articulate your needs.
If you feel the need for a change, it’s time to let others know. And, yes, in addition to your mentor, this may mean your colleagues or superiors.
There’s never been a better time than now to articulate your needs.
If this isn’t your strong suit, find a mentor who is more comfortable with this and learn from them how to vocally advocate for yourself.
4. Be flexible.
Chances are, your mentors lead busy lives with many responsibilities. This makes flexibility a key for a successful mentorship.
As women, we must provide support and give each other grace, especially now. Many of us are working from home, and some of us are balancing homeschooling for our children at the same time.
So, be flexible and the relationships you develop will be amazing
What do you need to grow in your career? A mentorship — both on the individual and collective levels — can be just what you need to take your career to the next level!
Hilary DeCesare is the Founder and CEO of The ReLaunch Co. She’s appeared on ABC’s The Secret Millionaire and on major news outlets such as CBS, ABC, Fox, Huffington Post, and Yahoo, and offers several ReLaunch courses and coaching. To connect with her directly or for media requests please email hello@therelaunchco.com.