How to Maximize Informal Mentorship

This is Probably the WORST Thing You Can Do with Your Mentor: Following Their Lead. Let me explain: Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to have incredible mentors who shaped my journey. Each of my mentors have added innumerably to my growth and learning, and I’m endlessly thankful to them. However, I’ve also learned a crucial lesson: you won’t get the best out of your mentor if you're not in charge of your own learning & development. You can have the best mentor by your side but if you're unable to discover yourself, you'll never kearn a thing. Here’s the biggest misconception about mentorship: People believe that a mentor's role is solely to lead. While guidance is essential, the best mentors are those who follow the lead of their mentees. Instead of dropping vague gems of wisdom every once in a while, they take time to understand your aspirations and help you reach new heights. Write it down and never forget: A mentor’s job is not to dictate your path, but collaborate with you on your journey. If you’re lucky enough to find a mentor, here’s are 8 ways in which you can get the most out of that relationship: 1/ Ask Tough Questions: Don’t shy away from challenging discussions. I always appreciated when my mentors provide honest feedback. It helped me refine my vision towards my business. 2/ Paint the Bigger Picture: Help your mentor understand the long-term vision you’re working towards. When they see the bigger picture, they can provide insights that help you with your goals. 3/ Create a Comfortable Space: Provide an environment where your mentor feels comfortable challenging you. Be open to their perspectives, and encourage them to push you beyond your limits. 4/ Be Proactive: Take the initiative in scheduling meetings and setting agendas. Show your mentor that you're committed and ready to take a leap with them. 5/ Set Clear Goals: Clearly outline what you hope to achieve through the mentorship. This helps both you and your mentor stay focused and measure progress. 6/ Act on Feedback: When your mentor provides advice, make sure to implement it and report back on the results. This will help build a relationship of mutual trust with your mentor. 7/ Share Your Wins and Challenges: Keep your mentor updated on your progress, both successes and setbacks. This allows them to offer tailored advice and encouragement, and it fosters a deeper connection. 8/ Network on Their Behalf: Introduce your mentor to your connections or offer to help them in their endeavors. Mentorship can be reciprocal, and showing appreciation through support can strengthen your relationship. Let’s repeat it once again: the Best mentorship is actually collaboration. If you’re ready to invest in your development, you’ll find that the right mentor can open doors and inspire you in ways you never imagined. #Mentorship #Leadership #CareerDevelopment #ProfessionalGrowth #Mentors

"I want to advance at work, but my manager says the budget is maxed out this year." During our quarterly coffee check-in, my mentee expressed frustration about the unclear career growth paths within their team. They are eager to mentor and coach others at work to develop their skills and explore their potential as a people manager. However, I highlighted that being promoted to a people manager role is not the only way to coach, mentor, and lead. Instead, here are the suggestions I shared. 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: ① Communicate openly with your manager. Make your aspirations known. Suggest projects you can lead. If not known, they won’t be considered. ② Volunteer to shadow and support. Assist during new projects or knowledge onboarding, using your expertise to guide others. ③ Share knowledge openly. Organize workshops or lunch-and-learns for teammates or stakeholders. Teaching and presenting publicly enhances leadership skills like influence without authority, storytelling, and organizational savviness, and builds valuable relationships. ④ Join or lead mentorship programs. Whether through ERGs or other groups, mentoring helps you grow as you guide others. 𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡, 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤: ① Connect and offer help. Reach out to less experienced peers or junior colleagues. Learn about their journeys and offer support—whether encouragement or tactical guidance—via platforms like LinkedIn or at professional events. ② Volunteer within professional communities. Annually, I mentor for Data Science Association that I co-founded and Break Through Tech AI for women and underrepresented students in STEM, inspiring and supporting their career start. ③ Ask your mentors. Share your aspirations with mentors who might connect you with groups needing guidance. This showcases your proactiveness and growth mindset. Career growth as a people manager is not limited to the title nor budget constraints. There are many ways to develop your leadership skills. While you explore other routes, you are also accumulating the credentials, the skills, and the experiences needed when the budget is ready or when another company is ready for you 😎 If you’re looking to develop leadership skills and become an effective people manager, reach out to discuss how my 1:1 coaching and career advice could help! ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ 🙋🏻♀️ Hi, I'm Nina Tseng, a Career Consultant & Life Coach. After 13 years in data and analytics & 6 years as a people and community leader, I now empower mid-career professionals to build a career and life they are excited about and proud of. 👭 Together, we will clarify your values and strengths, identify limiting beliefs and unhelpful habits, develop a personalized roadmap, and acquire new tools and mindsets for a life that brings you peace and ease.

Last week, my son, a college freshman, had his first meeting with his mentor. Imagine my surprise when he sought my advice ;) — I guess parents are worth something after all 😁 It's a significant milestone, and it got me thinking about the essence of effective mentoring given my own experience as a mentor and mentee. While there's an abundance of literature on this topic, including a recent piece by Harvard Business Review, many tend to skim the surface, offering broad, somewhat simplistic advice. Reflecting on this, I penned down some tailored guidance, which I believe might be valuable to others embarking on this journey. Here's what I shared: 1. Embrace the art of listening: Your first meeting is more about tuning in than speaking out. Show a genuine interest in your mentor's narrative. Inquire about their professional voyage - how it began, the decisions they navigated, and the turning points. 2. Seek wisdom, not just facts: Ask about the lessons they've learned along the way. What would they do differently if they could rewind the clock? Their hindsight can become your foresight. 3. Prepare, Prepare and then Prepare more: Before seeking advice on specific decisions like program selection, job opportunities, or electives, make sure you've done your homework. Understanding your own choices deeply enriches the conversation and the guidance you receive. 4. Explore beyond academics: Ask about the activities they engaged in outside their formal education or job that propelled their career - be it internships, part-time roles, additional courses, or club memberships. Understanding their strategies and how these choices shaped their path can offer practical steps for your own journey. In my own experience, a long term relationship with your mentor can be rewarding for both and has the potential to be truly transformative. What are some other non-obvious tips for speaking to your mentor/mentee? I’d love to hear your thoughts. #mentorship #relationships #student #learning #mentors

Tried finding a mentor and got crickets? It's probably not you, it's the system. We've all heard the hype – find a great mentor, change your life. But the reality? Finding someone who's the right fit, available, and truly invested in you can feel like searching for a unicorn. The problem is, we're often sold this idea that mentorship is about finding that one perfect, all-knowing person to guide our journey. But what if there was a better way? A way that empowers you and puts your growth in the driver's seat? 🔑 Forget the 'perfect' mentor. Focus on the dynamic. Instead of chasing an elusive mentor ideal, shift your focus to building a mentorship dynamic. This means finding people slightly ahead of you on your chosen path, who are willing to share their knowledge and insights. 🔑 Why this speeds up your growth: ▶ Targeted knowledge: They've recently faced the challenges you're facing now. Their solutions are fresh and relevant. ▶ Mutual benefit: As a mentee, you offer value too! Your questions and fresh perspective make them rethink their own process. ▶ Less intimidating: They're closer to your level, making it easier to connect and be honest about your challenges. 🤔 So, how do you actually make this happen? 🔑 Seek out the sharers: Look for people doing podcasts, writing articles, or being active in their industry community. These are the people genuinely interested in passing knowledge forward. The Mentorship Cycle: 1. Reach out with a specific question demonstrating you value their expertise. 2. Listen intently, then TAKE ACTION on their advice. 3. Report back! Share your results, whether successful or not. This shows respect and helps them refine their advice. 4. Ask a new, deeper question. Rinse and repeat! This is growth on your terms. By building a reciprocal mentorship dynamic, you take control. You learn proactively, gain confidence from action, and create mutually beneficial relationships that can evolve over time. 🍿 The creative boost you didn't see coming 🍿 This approach isn't just about knowledge transfer or career growth – it's a catalyst for your creativity! Here's why: Busting out of your bubble: Connecting with someone outside your usual circle exposes you to new ways of thinking, sparking fresh ideas. Action fuels inspiration: Taking action on their advice, then seeing results, reinforces your belief in your own ability to create and problem-solve. Accountability breeds output: Knowing you'll be reporting back creates a healthy pressure to actually execute on those ideas, not just let them linger. This mentorship dynamic isn't a replacement for those times when you might need in-depth guidance from a seasoned expert. But for day-to-day growth, overcoming creative hurdles, and building momentum, it's a surprisingly powerful tool. 🙅♂️ Tip of the day: Tag someone that you want to build a mentor relationship with in the comments.

From rising through the ranks in investment banking to coaching future leaders, I know feedback is the secret to success. In my 25+ years, I’ve seen how timely, well-asked feedback can unlock promotions, raises and career growth —don’t wait to ask. 1 - Ask for feedback in a timely manner - as soon after the event (eg presentation, meeting, research paper, sales pitch, etc.) as possible. ⭐ Avoid waiting too long to ask, as memories can fade over time. ⭐ Choose a time when the person can focus on your request - scheduling 1x1 time, go for a coffee, etc. - strive for an environment with few distractions. ⭐ Give the person a heads-up that you’ll be asking for their feedback, so they have time to prepare. 2 - Ask someone who you TRUST and will be honest and forthcoming ⭐ Be careful not to be tempted to ask people who you know will provide positive feedback. (Personally, I like to ask a pessimist/glass is half empty personality). 3 - Be CLEAR and SPECIFIC on what you want feedback on ⭐ EXAMPLE - Don't say "How Am I Doing?". Be more specific and say "Can you provide feedback on how I at the sales pitch with Client ABC" 4 - Ask for EXAMPLES ⭐ EXAMPLE - "When you say I sounded nervous during the pitch, what specifically did you observe? Was it my body language, the way I spoke, the pace of my speaking, etc.?" 5 - Be OPEN and receptive to the feedback and do not get defensive ⭐ If you are defensive, you can discourage the person giving you honest feedback (or any feedback at all) ⭐ Realize that PERCEPTION IS REALITY. If the person provided feedback that you do not agree with, realize it is their reality (and likely others as well). 6 - Put an ACTION PLAN in place to address the feedback. ⭐ Ask the person providing feedback for their views on steps you can take to improve. Be grateful and thank the person who provided you feedback and ask them if you can follow up with them in a few weeks time to see if they have seen improvement. I also like to encourage them to share TIMELY feedback with me whenever they notice something. P.S. Want help with your development needs ⭐⭐ I can help. DM me now or email me at craigbroder@emergingedgellp.com. ♻️♻️♻️PLEASE REPOST AND SHARE WITH YOUR NETWORK ♻️ ♻️♻️

2 Tips for Stepping up Your Mentee Game… #1 Proactive Outreach with Updates How many times have you sat there thinking I want to reach out to my mentor but… … I don’t want to bother them. …they are too busy for my updates. …if they wanted to know what is going on with me they would email me. If we are being honest, most of us have likely thought some combination of these thoughts or more.  The reality is that mentors get busy. So often you likely crossed their mind and just then they got interrupted or distracted right when they were going to reach out, and they forgot to circle back later. I mean, don’t act like that doesn’t happen to you daily. (Snap, I literally just remembered something I needed to do while typing this LOL.  No, seriously.) Sharing updates is a great way to keep your mentor in the loop on important things that have occurred since your last catch-up. It puts my mind at ease knowing my mentees are going to send me the scoop and let me know what’s going on. Now that doesn’t absolve me from ever checking in on them, it just helps me not miss as many moments when life happens to be lifing at a given time. #2 Don’t Undervalue Your Value-Add “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin…” (Zec. 4:10, NLT) Listen, Linda! We all have to start somewhere, and most of us don’t just have $100k of business to give to a mentor on day 1. What other things can you do to be helpful? Did you read an article that might impact their industry? …Share it! Are you on a planning committee where your mentor could speak and get increased visibility? …Invite them! Do you have a list of recommendations for food/activities in a city they are traveling to or interested in? …Send it! Adding value can be in the personal or professional context. Don’t discount what it is you are bringing to the table. Drop a comment with how you are going to add value to your mentor(s). #mondayswithmorenike #weareback #mentoringmonth

Looking for a mentor but not sure where to start? 🤔 With 25+ years in career development, I get asked about #mentorship all the time. So today, I’m sharing some key tips on how to make the most of mentorship and set yourself up for success. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to level up, these insights can help you make meaningful connections that will truly accelerate your growth! 🚀 #julieonthejob 1️⃣ Align your career goals with the mentorship you seek – Where are you now, and where do you want to be? What are the gaps that need closing, and who can help you get there? 🌱 2️⃣ Be specific about what you want to be mentored on – The more focused you are, the easier it is for someone to say yes. Example: “I’ve noticed you’re really great at running meetings—could you help me improve my skills in that area?” What not to do: “I don’t know what I want to do in my career or with my life. Can you mentor me?” 🙅♀️ 3️⃣ Build a network of mentors – It’s hard to find one person who can do it all! Look for mentors who can guide you in different areas. 4️⃣ Be proactive and show gratitude – Set up meetings, buy coffee, send thank-you notes. These little actions help build strong, meaningful relationships. ☕💌 5️⃣ Pay it back/pay it forward – Find ways to help your mentor, no matter how early you are in your career. You have more to offer than you think! 💡