Unhappy at Work? Get a Mentor!

 

Ask any successful person and they will tell you that they didn’t achieve success alone. Most had a mentor. Mentors are those who have experience in the business world and are willing to help you, having your best interest at heart. This could be a teacher, a coach or a friend willing to help and guide you. You’d be surprised how often they may have experienced the same problems you’re having and can share with you what helped them overcome their challenges.

 

In my book, “How to Create a Happy Workplace”, I interviewed a number of award-winning CEO’s and one thing they all had in common is they all have used mentors during their lifetime. They feel so strongly about mentoring, that many have started formal mentoring programs. Here is an excerpt from my interview with John Flatowicz, Managing Partner of award-winning CPA firm Briggs & Veselka.

 

 

Q: Your mentoring program is unique as a business model. Can you explain?

 

A:   We strive to provide a pool of qualified mentors by continually offering mentoring training which cover topics such as unleashing talent, providing feedback, and resolving conflict. Our employees select their top three mentors from our qualified pool and, as much as possible, we match them up with one of their three picks based on an assessment of who would be the best fit. We hold mentors accountable by monitoring the frequency of meetings, requesting staff feedback, and giving the mentees the opportunity to change mentors annually, if they feel necessary.

 

Q:   How do you select mentors?

 

A:   Our mentors need to have a coaching mentality. While expertise in numbers, project management, and technical knowledge is important, a mentor has to enjoy the teaching aspect of their position too.

 

Q:   When do mentors get assigned?

 

A: Each newhire is assigned a mentor to help them acclimate to   our culture and grow into a valued team member. I remember feeling alone and unsupported as a new hire at my previous employer. At Briggs & Veselka, I was taken under Johnny Veselka’s wing and   he became a valued resource. The mentor’s purpose is to ensure you feel connected to the company and supported by the team.

 

In another chapter of “How to Create a Happy Workplace”, I interviewed Tom Elsenbrook, CEO of Alvarez & Marsal’s award-winning Business Consulting Division.

 

Q:   Is mentorship an important part of developing your new hires?

 

A: Yes. We have a different twist to the mentorship philosophy. Typically, companies will assign mentors to employees. At A&M the employees choose their mentors. We want all our people to become expert mentees, not mentors.

 

Q: Can anyone pick a mentor?

 

A: Yes, anyone can be a mentee. All employees are told about the mentee program as new hires and any leader can participate. As an example I recently got a call from one of our top performing managers who wanted to improve his story-telling techniques.

He said, “Tom, you’re very effective at making good business points through stories. I’d like to learn more about that.”. We met and had several “story telling” sessions together. He is now one of our best storytellers.

 

Conclusion: So what’s your next step?  Look around your company, community and friends and ask someone you respect to become your mentor. Most people are flattered to be asked.

Lorraine is an author and business consultant who helps companies create Happy Workplaces.  To learn more about her work, go to www.lorrainegrubbs.com

 

 

 

 

 

Action Items:

 

Guidelines for a Great Mentoring Experience

 

• Know your own strengths and weaknesses and understand where you need help.

 

• Be selective in picking a mentor. This relationship will most likely be ongoing for some time.

 

• Commit to becoming the “perfect mentee” by taking and acting upon advice, even if it makes you uncomfortable.

 

• Plan how often you will meet and decide on how to measure your improvement.

 

• Don’t be shy about giving your mentor feedback about what you need and how he/she can provide it.

 

• Have fun! A good mentor will become part of your development, and in many cases a lifelong friend. Before you know it, you will realize that getting a mentor is one of the best things you can do for yourself.

 

Now that you’ve discovered the value of mentoring, pass it forward and become a mentor.