The Value of Having a Mentor

“The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image, but giving them the opportunity to create themselves.” – Steven Spielberg, director.

When I look back on my career so far, I have been extremely lucky in the jobs that I’ve had. Not only have I had some pretty amazing bosses and worked for great companies, but with each job that I have had, I have built and expanded my skills, landing me in a position that I truly love: Director of Digital Strategy.

I can’t take all the credit for how I’ve gotten to my dream job. I have had mentors – both inside and outside of work – that have helped my find my path and supported my professional growth.

Now everyone will get something different out of a mentor-mentee relationship, but I wanted to highlight some of the benefits that I have gained from having a mentor in hopes that it will either inspire you to become a mentor, seek out a mentor, or both!

• An Ear to Listen: Have you ever had a problem at work – whether on a project, with a client or co-worker and you just talk yourselves in circles and find lots of other issues but no concrete solution? Well, I have. And having a mentor has allowed me to talk through the problems in front of me and discuss the different solutions, with my mentor often presenting a solution I hadn’t thought of. A mentor is a great resource who can provide an objective opinion and provide constructive inputs to help you navigate the challenges that work often presents. They also can help you learn how to deal and manage frustrating situations in the future – arming you with the skills needed to gain perspective in every situation.
• A Voice to Guide: I never used to ask for raises and was nervous to ask for promotions. I thought that my work would speak for itself and if I wasn’t receiving a promotion then I needed to work harder and just wait for certain things to happen. That is, until I had a mentor who helped me find my voice. A mentor is that voice in your ear that helps guide you down the path that you know you want to take, but may be nervous to go down on your own. A mentor can help you do your homework when asking for a raise, work on the positioning of a promotion request, and guide you in the right direction around bigger work and career decisions.
• A Connection to Others: Sometimes your dream job falls into your lap. Sometimes it doesn’t. Having a mentor allows you to not only have a direct go-to person, but mentors often have connections beyond the workplace. Having a mentor can help you network beyond your bubble, introduce you to additional mentors, and expand your connections that you may need down the road as you progress your career.

So as we continue to think about mentorship in both the Women of Sitecore community – and the broader Sitecore community – I say, get a mentor, be a mentor. There is so much information we can share throughout our community and connecting with a mentor/mentee is the first step to opening up a whole new world of opportunity.