The Value of Self-Knowledge for a Mentee or Protégé
Having worked with so many mentees whose aim for securing a mentor began as, “I just want to learn what else is out there,” I’d like to speak to the value of self-knowledge prior to engaging a mentor. Arriving at sufficient knowledge concerning the direction you wish to head in your career BEFORE you start working with a mentor is based on:
If you know where you wish to go,
a compatible mentor can help you get there.
Another way to look at is:
If you do not know where you wish to go,
how can a mentor (or anyone) help you to get there?
Sometimes a prospective mentee or protégé will ask:
Does this readiness factor mean I must create an exact plan
or have a complete list of everything I want to work on?
The answer is: No. Your present career ideas on where you would like to land do not have to be complete. In fact, a more thorough and complete plan is something you can develop while working with your mentor.
I recommend putting together an initial plan prior to landing a mentor, like a first draft of a blueprint before you break ground on a construction project. This starter plan will allow you to show a prospective mentor or a mentor program coordinator (if you have access to a formal mentor program that will make the match) a concept of what you aim to create. Such a start is useful and wise. It allows a mentor candidate to say, “I see what you want to construct, and I am the person who can help you to realize your vision.”
Another way to view this is that you are in the market for new ideas and fresh perspectives, like a person who is hungry and looking for the right meal to fit their hunger and taste. To arrive at a spot of actually eating something, you narrow down the type of cuisine you are in the mood for. Narrowing your options does not mean you must determine the exact item that you will prepare at home or select from a restaurant’s menu. You only need to focus your general want on the type of cuisine that you know will suit you.
When applied to a career, this level of self-knowledge can mean knowing you want to work in sales and relationship management versus internal systems and projects. It is fine if your initial plan is fluid. Once you begin working with a mentor, modifications to your vision will evolve based on new information and understanding and/or changes in your job or industry.
An initial vision sufficiently articulated is what your mentor needs to get started and for them to have confidence that they are the right person to help you. This initial plan illuminates for the mentor where you seek their guidance and unique insights.
Make it easy for your future mentor to help you by doing your self-awareness and self-readiness steps first. One of these steps may be completing a self-assessment like Clifton StrengthsFinder® or DISC assessment or Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® to gain clarity on your unique attributes and preferences. In many companies, you can access these tools through Human Resources or do your own exploring at a bookstore or online to find a self-assessment that interests you.
Part of this readiness phase includes viewing your current obligations: Will entering a mentoring relationship fit in? If you are planning a wedding, building a house, in undergraduate or graduate school, consider holding off on entering a mentoring arrangement. Look instead toward a time when you can give the opportunity consistent energy and focus. This way, you ensure you are set up to fulfill your commitment as a mentee, make the best use of your mentor’s willingness to help you, and get the most out of the experience.
Having a mentor can bring about transformative—and even miraculous—shifts and advances in your professional life. With a few simple preparation steps, your mentor will have the clarity they need to succeed in helping you bring your current career vision to life.
