Life is full of incredible experiences, successes, and failures. Even with strong support systems, women deal with these experiences alone, and overthink every situation. Unfortunately, over thinking creates a noise that can become confusing and debilitating as women navigate the working world. How can women climb the ladder while dealing with the noise? Mentorship can help.
Here are my Top 3 Tips for getting the most out of mentoring.
One: Always be kind. You don't know where or when that act of kindness will spark courage in an individual. People go through different experiences in their lives and we do not know the type of negativity they are going through behind closed doors. Kindness will help navigate and get them to a more secure point.
Two: Establish a give-and-take relationship with whomever you are mentoring. Mentoring is about learning and understanding which direction to go in. What might work for you, might not work for the person you are mentoring. Keep an open mind and listen. Mentors and mentees can learn from each other. Not all advice is good advice as advice I experience based.
Three: One of the most important things about mentoring is if it is not a good fit, do not be afraid to sever ties and go your own way. Do this earlier rather than later. When you are trying to help someone and all you get from them is combative, entitled behaviour, or they are constantly correcting you or challenging you, it is better to just say good-bye. This works both ways. If you do not feel like you and your mentor are moving towards a common goal, you might want to rethink the relationship.
I have learned that I will never fail at anything, not because I am brilliant or because I am the best, but because I have surrounded myself with some pretty incredible women that are always willing to jump in and help me when I ask for that help.
My motto when I am asked to do anything out of my comfort zone is always “Say yes, Panic, Rock it!” and of course, talk with my mentor.