Although COVID-19 has created new problems and obstacles for many of us, the situation has also brought out the best in all of us in terms of our willingness to help others.
Over the past few weeks, I have observed people giving back to their communities by supporting local businesses, creating services to help job seekers, and sourcing medical equipment for front-line workers. For me, I wanted to leverage my professional experience to help students and professionals looking for employment and help individuals seeking career advice.
In my experience, there are two types of mentors: short-term and long-term ones. Mentorship can last for a few meetings or for many years. Regardless, the goal of serving as a mentor is to maximize the value you provide to your mentees.
Today, I hope to share with you my opinions on how to become a mentor, how to provide maximum value to your mentees, and how to strengthen your mentorship skills.
How to become a mentor
1. Reach out to student organizations at your alma mater
When I was an undergraduate student, I was part of various school clubs that offered mentorship programs. Oftentimes, I was paired with an upper-year student or recent graduate who worked at a management consulting firm. A few months ago, I reached out to a student organization that I was a part of and am now mentoring one of their students. The benefit of going through this channel is that you are paired with someone who has similar university experience to you and is also interested in pursuing a career in your industry.
2. Reach out to individuals at your organization
At my company, everyone is assigned a coach, who is usually at the senior manager or director level. Although coaches are extremely helpful in terms of career advice and providing access to opportunities, it is more difficult to ask them questions about day-to-day problems such as managing project stress or determining the best way to draft a deliverable. In order to build a support network, look for ways to help team members who are both more junior and more senior than you, and consider organizing virtual meetings or grabbing coffees to discuss issues outside of work.
3. Join mentorship organizations
Recently, I joined an organization focused on connecting students and job seekers with professionals across a multitude of industries from around the world. By volunteering for this kind of initiative, not only can you help individuals in your local community, but you can also bring value to the international community and develop relationships with other participating mentors.
4. Be open to conversations on LinkedIn
Given the demanding work schedule in management consulting, you may have noticed how challenging it can be to take the time to speak with strangers who reach out on LinkedIn or other social media platforms. However, try to be more flexible during times like these; your advice can help to motivate others to continue working hard.
How to maximize the value you provide to mentees
1. Be open to providing tangible support
Tangible support can be provided in many ways. For example, as a mentor you can provide detailed advice, offer to edit resumes, or provide mock interviews. When I was recruiting, my most memorable interaction with a mentor was when he referred me to other people he knew in his network. Sometimes, your experiences might not align with your mentees’ goals and aspirations, but you might be able to direct them to someone else who is better positioned.
2. Empower and motivate your mentees
Recruiting is tough, regardless of profession or industry. To make matters more difficult, COVID-19 has not only increased the supply of talent but also decreased the demand for it. As a mentor, you must try your best to motivate and inspire your mentees to continue to work hard. Remember, you are a leader and role model, so it is important to be positive and to empower your mentees to make beneficial decisions.
3. Be proactive
You should be proactive with your mentees. Interact with your mentees frequently to maintain communication and to check in on their development. This can range from simple email exchanges to coffee chats. Proactiveness shows that you care and that you are invested in helping them.
4. Show that you are interested
Show enthusiasm towards the goals of your mentees. In doing so, you will strengthen the personal relationship you have with them.
5. Act with discretion
Mentors also play the role of trusted advisor. Oftentimes, mentees will seek your opinions when they are reluctant to talk with others. Respect your mentees’ goals and act as their confidant in terms of their career decisions. It is a two-way street – if you act with discretion during their period of career uncertainty, your mentees will respect you for it, and will be more willing to help you if they end up in a position that can benefit you.
How to strengthen your mentorship skills
1. Find yourself a mentor
Mentors can have their own mentors too! As a mentee, you gain exposure to how other mentors structure their interactions. Over time, you learn more about what you like and dislike, helping you to adapt your techniques when managing your own group of mentees. Furthermore, you gain valuable and relevant insights that can be passed on to your mentees.
2. Provide a unique experience to each mentee
A successful mentor should never approach the mentorship of two mentees in the same way. Each mentee will have a different personality, learning style, method of interaction and goals. That is why it is extremely important to gauge your mentees through an introductory meeting, in which you and your mentee discuss expectations, goals, and areas of focus. In doing so, you can offer more relevant and detailed advice tailored to your mentees’ needs.
3. Emotional intelligence > cognitive intelligence
Naturally, you will be vested in your mentees’ longer-term successes. As a result, you must learn how to ask the right questions, observe tone and body language and be open-minded about providing further value. Avoid assuming anything about your mentees and their goals without asking them first.
4. Ask for feedback
Mentorship is a learning process. For me, I found that I improved my ability to help others over time. When you have a strong relationship with a mentee, it is valuable to ask him or her for feedback and areas for improvement. That way, you can enhance the value you provide. Also, you become more aware of the characteristics that you might look for when seeking out your own mentor.
I hope that my opinions and experiences will inspire more people to take on this responsibility and give back to the community. Similarly, I hope to further enhance my mentorship skills by applying some of my learnings to my future interactions with mentees. In conclusion, I will leave you with an inspiring quote that has guided me in my mentorship journey.
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” ― Benjamin Franklin
Jeff Zhang is an Associate at PwC working with the Deals Strategy / Strategy Consulting team. Previously, he was a Management Consultant at Novantas with a focus on the financial services sector. He has experience advising clients on pricing, marketing, distribution, big data analysis, and growth strategy projects.
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