How Mentoring Can Supercharge Your Career Advancement

Hello, PB Toastmasters! This is Jennifer Minhas, 3^rd year Toastmaster on the Presentation Mastery Pathway, now presenting my first blog ever. I am delighted to write today about a topic I find super valuable; that is, mentoring.  Join me as I will address… What is the mentor/mentee relationship? How does this differ from coaching? How can we make the most of a mentor/mentee relationship?

To be honest, I have never had a designated mentor. Early in my career, I was a young charge nurse in a large city, far from my hometown. With an independent mindset, I strived through continuing education, leadership projects, and forward-thinking clinical programs.  But what really made my growth meaningful, tangible, was the career help from my clinical leader and manager. Indeed, they were mentors, just without the label. They pushed me to learn new things, advised me on projects that fit my skill set, and kept me in the loop when new leadership opportunities arose in the organization. 

In the era of the1990s, the structure of mentorship was fairly one directional, “top down” and usually from a more senior employee. This person knew about the organization and programs that I would enjoy and excel in. Mentoring a person up in the organization was the focus of the mentor. (www.togethermentoringplatform.com ).

My story begins to address our first question, what is a mentor/mentee relationship?  A mentor can be formally arranged or someone you intentionally reach out to for specific advice. Mentorship requires connection, consistency and authentic support. Naturally then, the main criterion for a good mentor is simply someone who genuinely cares about your success, professionally and personally.  

Today’s mentor/mentee relationship is more collaborative and inclusive. Often the mentor is just a few steps ahead of the mentee, or even a peer who closely understands the mentee challenges. So don’t worry if you feel it is too early in your career to reach out, or the mentor you seek is just a few steps ahead.

Forbes recently published a feature on mentoring, written by Sarah Hernholm, the founder of Whatever It Takes (WIT), an organization providing mentorship for new entrepreneurs. She writes, “the best mentors demonstrate emotional intelligence more than accomplishments”. They listen more than talk, ask thoughtful questions and help the mentee reflect on next steps in a mutually respectful way. Shared values and similar energy levels are more important than hierarchy.  Mentoring has become one of the most valuable connections of a career.

The concept of supportive relationships applies to anyone wanting to make the most of Toastmasters as well. PB Toastmasters offers a mentorship program aimed at helping a member reach their public speaking goals. That relationship, as with anything in the club, is what you make of it. So give it a try! Let Elaine or Nakisa know if you would like to have a mentor or become one.  It is an excellent way to grow. 

People often compare mentoring to coaching, or even teaching (which is too much to address here). How different or similar are these two types of valuable tools? Does one need a career coach AND a mentor? 

Whether you need a mentor or a coach depends on your specific needs and goals. In nursing, my mentor provided support in advancing my knowledge and career overall. At the same time, I was coached by another leader on how well I performed certain skills. Coaching, therefore, is more immediate, short term, and performance driven. Mentoring is more wholistic, focusing on professional and personal development. 

Kate Rosenberg, founder of Shattered Glass Coaching and current PB Toastmasters club member, explains career coaching as “more structured, usually time-bound, and focuses on a specific goal or set of goals. In coaching, there are usually action plans, accountability, and skill-building. A coach may have walked your exact career path, or maybe not.”  

Mentoring is usually a longer-term relationship, based on guidance from “someone who has been where you want to go.”  The mentor shares their own experience and may open doors through their network. Broader career development goals are the main focus. 

How do you make the most of the mentor/mentee relationship? One tip from WIT is to make a Mentor action plan. Some mentoring programs use integrated platforms, with software to set mentor meetings, document goals, and track progress.  Whether you use a document tool or just your own journal, here are steps to create the most impact. 

1.  Identify an ideal mentor. Write down three specific challenges you are facing and the type of person who has successfully navigated similar situations. Can they be consistent, prompt, authentic? This applies to TM or your career mentor. 

2.  Research and reach out. Send a thoughtful message about your request. Questions to ask potential mentors:

a. What is one decision you made early in your career that really shaped your trajectory? 

b. How did you decide when to pivot vs when to persist? 

c. How do you maintain motivation during challenging times?

d. What are some of your daily or weekly habits that you have found most valuable? 

e. For Toastmasters… same thing, but mentors are also skilled at using TM tools to help in your progress. For example, “How do you decide what topic meets a pathway speech?” 

3. Prepare for the meeting. Create a few specific questions about their journey, decision making process, outcomes.

4. Follow through consistently. Mutually create a meeting plan including frequency, goals, progress. Follow up with thank you notes and share your wins often. 

As my career progressed, I began mentoring new nurses and nursing students as they transition from undergrad to their first real life job. This is a structured year long program where mentees are matched with mentors who have career development experience. But completing the program, getting a first job, does not mean our time is finished. Over the years, many of my mentees continue contacting me as they need, on their timeline. These connections have been some of the most rewarding, as I see their overall personal and professional growth.

Whether your relationship is formal or more casual, from a peer or more experienced mentor, the growth and career advancement realized through mentorship will be instrumental and empowering. 

Finally, please reach out to any of the club officers if you have any thoughts or questions on mentoring. We are here to help.