The Importance of Mentors: Five Reasons Why Mentors are Essential and How to Find Them
During a study,
97 percent
of professionals surveyed conveyed that mentors were valuable to them. However, only 37
percent of professionals have a mentor. It’s clear that professionals are still warming
up to the idea of mentorship.
Do you have someone that you can turn to for questions about your profession or who can
advocate on your behalf? If not, you may want to think about finding a workplace mentor.
Much has been said about why having a mentor is important to your career, but the benefit
this person can be to your professional aspirations cannot be stressed enough. If you’re
still on the fence, we have some stats that can provide more insight into why you should
invest the time in finding a mentor.
Take a look at these five reasons why project management mentors are essential and a few tips on how to find them:
There’s A Correlation Between Mentors and High Salaries
According to McCarthy Mentoring,
25 percent of employees who enrolled in a mentoring program had a salary grade change,
compared to only five percent of those who didn’t have a mentor. This stat reveals a
connection between having a mentor who can advocate on your behalf and earning higher
pay. One of the primary sources of support that a mentor can provide is guidance and
wisdom. They may even offer informal training.
This increase in knowledge can lead to you having more value to your company—leading to
monetary gain. Additionally, you have someone in your corner who has likely been at the
company longer than you who can offer guidance on how to navigate the company culture and
introduce you to their connections. Ultimately, the right mentor can increase your chances
of seeing a bump in salary.
Increase Your Success and Happiness At Work
A CNBC article revealed that
nine in 10 workers
who have a career mentor say they are happy in their jobs. These individuals are more
likely to be well-paid and believe that their contributions are valued. The data
overwhelmingly points to the notion that mentors significantly impact mentees’ work
satisfaction and happiness. Again, the benefits include offering helpful advice,
getting them plugged into social work circles, and being a general resource for
information. Ultimately, mentors are a source of support for workers, which can
significantly impact workplace happiness and satisfaction in the short and long-run.
Stay At Your Job Longer
CNBC also pointed out that four in ten respondents who had a mentor also said they would
stay at their jobs longer. One of the most straightforward ways to find out about a
company’s reputation and viability is to see if its employees like staying there. And a
mentor can help with those statistics.
A mentor can help you navigate the office’s political scene and avoid some of the mistakes
that can negatively impact your career. This enriches your experience working at the
company and makes it more likely that you would stay for the long-haul. Leaving a job for
another can be a necessary transition, but having a mentor advocating on your behalf, can
ensure that you get the most out of your current employment experience and only move when
you are ready.
Reach Your Goals
Professionals are
70 percent
more likely to meet their goals if they share them with an accountability partner—which
is a role a mentor can definitely play. Think about the last time you told someone about
a great plan or idea that you had. What impact did this have on you? For many people,
telling someone about a project makes the situation more real, as the other person that
knows about your plans can ask you questions about progress and keep you accountable. A
mentor is an excellent person to do this with.
Not only does this individual know your strengths—and weaknesses—but they also have some
insight into your career trajectory and can cheer you on or offer guidance about how to
achieve the goals you’ve set for yourself. Poet and author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry got
it right when he said: “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” And a mentor can help you
navigate your plan to reach your objectives.
Reduce Your Mistakes
Mentors bring a lot of value, but there’s one you may not have thought out: improving
your accuracy. According to a Harvard Business Review study,
84 percent
of individuals who said they had mentors said they avoided costly mistakes. There are
many reasons why this could be the case. They could be offering tips about handling the
job or provide some additional oversight if they work directly with the mentees.
Either way, mentees are benefitting in the form of making fewer errors. It’s worth noting
that this aspect doesn’t just help mentees, but it also gives the company an advantage.
Fewer mistakes mean better productivity and a higher quality product and service. For
companies considering the establishment of a formal mentorship program, this is a
significant perk.
Encourages You to Pay it Forward
Perhaps one of the most extraordinary things about mentors and mentees is that it can
encourage you also to take up the mantle of bringing someone else along. According to
McCarthy Mentoring,
89 percent
of those mentored go on to mentor themselves. This is an important act that benefits
young professionals and the industries they work in.
Yes, the next group of up-and-coming professionals can learn from textbooks, but some
of the most enriching education they will get is from someone who has been where they
are. Taking the time to guide them through the positions you’ve been through not only
helps them but also gives you the feeling that you’ve contributed to your industry and
society-at-large.
Mentorship Is A Must-Have
Mentorship is often framed as a “nice-to-have” rather than a “must-have” thing, and that
must change. Mentorship benefits everyone involved, and the perks are far-reaching. From
decreasing mistakes to attaining promotions and higher salaries, mentorship is
responsible for a variety of advantages. So, see if your company offers a mentorship
program, or start to look within your network outside of work if there isn’t one. Here
are a few tips to finding a mentor if your company doesn’t have a mentorship program:
-
Reach out to a professional who you want to learn from.
You can ask them for a coffee meeting (in-person or virtually) and ask them about
the work they do.
-
Join a professional group.
Many industries will have professional groups that offer perks like workshops, meetings,
or even certifications. Many of these organizations will have mentorship programs that
you can participate in.
-
Set a time limit on the mentoring.
Some mentorship relationships can last for your career, while some may only be for a
certain time or specific period of your life. Define this during your meetings.
-
Always ask how you can help.
While mentors are there to help you, don’t forget that this relationship is a two-way
street. Ask if there is any way that you can help and offer your expertise.
You never know, this person could be an exceptional addition to your professional career
as well as your personal development, so make finding a mentor a priority this year.
Sources:
Mentoring Statistics: The Research You Need To Know,
https://www.guider-ai.com/blog/mentoring-statistics-the-research-you-need-to-know
Nine in 10 workers who have a career mentor say they are happy in their jobs,
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/16/nine-in-10-workers-who-have-a-mentor-say-they-are-happy-in-their-jobs.html
Why mentoring: what the stats say,
https://mccarthymentoring.com/why-mentoring-what-the-stats-say/