Mentorship relationships are mentee-driven – so, it’s up to you to not only establish one (or more), but to make it worth your while.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory defines mentorship as “a protected relationship in which a more knowledgeable or experienced person guides and nurtures the professional development or growth of another, outside the normal manager/subordinate line management.” My mentors have certainly impacted my career path, and I believe that not having one can be a significant handicap.
- Mentorship relationships are mentee-driven. So, it’s up to you to not only establish one (or more), but to make it worth your while. Take the initiative, build a clear vision of what you want to accomplish, maintain momentum, be open to new experiences, and absorb feedback. Keeping your ego in check and accepting you will make mistakes are keys to success.
- Relations between mentors and mentees can be formal or informal. Both types of these relationships have been critical for my own career. I set specific goals and timelines with formal mentors. With informal mentors, I’m more likely to brainstorm ideas, and discuss sensitive situations. Whichever way or combination works for you, center trust and honesty at the core of the relationship.
- The best mentors are empathetic and supportive. They actively listen, provide constructive criticism, and encourage, motivate, and lead by example. They also recognize that everyone’s journey is different. Likely they have had their own mentors, whose lessons still guide and shape them.
One of the pioneers of reggae, Bob Marley wrote several songs that have become anthems. His lyrics were purposeful and direct, inspiring generations to address personal, spiritual, and socio-political issues. As we address mentorship in the marketing space, I am drawn to his words:
- “Wisdom is better than silver and gold.” Beyond simply being knowledge, wisdom is experience. Perspective can be a powerful tool; it’s an ideal topic of conversation for mentors and mentees. Mentors can share firsthand experiences and what they have witnessed as an observer of other people’s paths. Mentees need to learn that the road to wisdom is long and paved with many experiences, setbacks, and unforeseen moments. Because of this, bouncing ideas and concerns off a mentor is much better than processing situations in a vacuum.
- “Don’t worry about a thing, every little thing is gonna be alright.” Setbacks will certainly happen in your career. Consider that you don’t have to overcome mishaps by yourself: work with your mentors to build resilience. Early in my career, an executive told me I needed to be a “quick-change artist.” This is one of the most valuable lessons I learned and I’ve applied it the many times I have needed to pivot in my career. Singing this refrain from Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds” has grounded me and spurred meaningful discussions with my mentors, allowing me to turn complications into positive experiences.
- “Every man got a right to decide his own destiny.” Sometimes, especially early on, we may feel married to one career track, preferring to stick with a certain company, industry, or even mimicking a colleague’s path. This is where mentors can also be life coaches. We are not on anyone else’s journey. Some moments ask us to move forward on the trajectory we are currently on, but other times, disruption is the best course of action. The bottom line is this: be unafraid to share and tackle difficult decisions that make sense for your trajectory and your life.
- “Live for yourself and you will live in vain; live for others, and you will live again.” As you progress into more senior roles, consider stepping into the mentor role. At the risk of sounding corny, the relationships you build will feed your soul. Giving back should be one of your mantras. If you engage as a mentor for the right reasons, the success of your mentees will be a source of great pride. It sounds like common sense to support and encourage others through our gained experiences, but as Voltaire said, “Common sense is not so common.” Take the step into being a mentor if you have not already.
Let’s take a page from Bob Marley to “get up, stand up” and start, restart, nurture, or adjust mentorship relationships to makes sense of this crazy marketing world. By doing this we build and support a meaningful community of colleagues who support each other and enrich the profession.
Javier Suarez is a principal corporate marketing manager with Geosyntec Consultants. Contact him at jsuarez@geosyntec.com.
