February "When She Speaks" - Standing on The Shoulders of Mentors

Our February "When She Speaks" program featured an informative and inspiring dicsussion on thr role of mentors and sponsors in advancing professional women's careers. Here are some key notes from the panel discussion:

• A recent “Catalyst” report

http://www.catalyst.org/publication/458/42/mentoring-necessary-but-insufficient-for-advancement cited that one of the reasons mentoring in insufficient for women to advance in their careers, partly because women frequently choose mentors who are in “lower” positions in the organization, people they feel more comfortable with than more senior-level executives

• What is the difference between a mentor and a sponsor? A mentor give advice, helps you with a potential development area, is (usually) not in your direct line of responsibility and has no personal investment in any particular career path you choose;  a sponsor is an advocate for your career advancement (usually in your company) and has direct input and/or involvement in the discussion about whether you are promoted or not
• The panelists shared that they all had at least one “significant” mentor – someone that had a direct, meaningful impact on their career; but they also cited the importance of recognizing those everyday “mentoring moments” – where  you can learn from someone in the course of your everyday contacts and interactions
• Having “organic” mentors – people you meet, whom you feel you can learn from, can help you build a specific skill set or competency – are as important as the mentors you get through more formal company mentoring programs
• Mentors (and mentees) can help you feel more connected to other areas in your company/business if you intentionally choose ones outside your department
• It can be helpful to have more than one mentor – depending on your goals for seeking a mentor; you need to know why you are seeking a mentoring relationship, the goals and what you hope to gain from it
• You don’t necessarily have to like a person who could be your mentor, it is important to respect their abilities and know what you can learn from them
• Consider looking for mentors 3 to 4 levels up in your organization; someone who can help you see more broadly and strategically in the organization
• Watch out for the “M” word! Many potential mentors might be intimidated by the commitment that mentoring can potential mean; consider approaching potential mentors by just asking for advice on a regular basis – rather than trying to set up a formal process, commitment
• Sponsors: it’s not always possible to “find” a sponsor, nor do you always know if you have a sponsor and who that might be; so it is important to show value in all your interactions with senior management; get visible, build relationships with them; use every opportunity to show interest and engage with them so they can get to know you, your value and build a relationship, create support for you! This includes your “internal customers”.
• Sponsors can also come from outside the organization: people who know and have the respect of senior management; clients, etc.
• Building relationships with others who can be your mentors, sponsors and advocates; it is all about “strategic networking”!
• The panelists shared that they are involved in both formal and informal mentoring relationships; sometime the mentoring relationship begins with an informal discussion and then evolves into a more formal mentoring relationship. Mentees help mentors learn more about what's going on in other parts of the company
• It’s important to have diversity on the people who are your mentors: don’t always choose people you are comfortable with
• One approach to getting mentors is to do a presentation on a project you are working on and ask several people for input
• When thinking about “choosing ”a mentor you should (1) be clear about the topics or issues you are seeking help with (2) investigate who can help you (inside and outside the company); ask colleague for suggestions, also look to alumni, professional associations and other networking groups (3) ask for a referral or introduction: e.g. “Sally suggested I speak with you because she said you are known for/good at XXXX and I am looking for some guidance in that area”