Overcoming obstacles and developing skills necessary for the corporate sector can be more easily accomplished with the moral support and sage advice of those who have gone before. Many women in West Michigan are already taking part in mentorship programs within their corporations or in community-wide programs. Here are five reasons why you should get involved in a mentorship program:
Experience
Learn the ropes from someone who has already been through them. A mentor can give you advice based on learned knowledge and experience. If you're entering a new career, a mentor can provide you with valuable insights so that you're not heading into your new role blind.
Perspective
A mentor is an un-biased party who can help you to see things from the outside. Your mentor can also ask you questions and help lead you to the solution to a problem. With an outside view of situations, you will have a unique perspective and the ability to solve problems sooner rather than later.
Goal Setting and Reaching
Defining your career path in your head is one thing, writing it down and developing it with someone else is another. A mentor can hold you accountable for the things you'd like to achieve and make sure you remain on the path to achieve them.
Friend and Confidante
Establish confidentiality with your mentor, and use him or her as a sounding board for problems and ideas that you have. Especially in the case of ethics, you may need another's experienced opinion to help determine the right course of action.
Inspiration
When choosing a mentor, think about yourself and your career goals. Where would you like to be in the next five years, the next ten years? Choose a mentor who has followed a path you admire. It may be someone in your field of work, or perhaps not, but surrounding yourself with people who have done what you would like to do will help you to get where you want to go.
Find a mentor in the West Michigan community by reaching out within your company or to organizations like Jandernoa Entrepreneurial Mentoring.
Source: Andrea Newell Photo: Adam Gregor
