Mentorship Among Professional Women
Most people believe professional mentorship is important for success, yet far fewer women than men receive or offer mentorship in the workplace. While we could speculate on the many reasons women aren’t seeking out or becoming mentors, this month, I’d like to suggest a few good reasons why they should.
Three Reasons for Women to Seek a Mentor
1 – To Learn from Their Experiences (and Mistakes)
What else is a mentor for but to pass on the lessons they’ve learned as someone who’s traveled a little farther down the road? As we scale the rock face, they are looking down from the cliff top, shouting, “Don’t put your foot there! Trust me; I tried!” A woman’s path through a company or industry will hold many different challenges than a man’s, which means she’ll have lessons and insights to share that, whether you are a male or female mentee, you would likely never hear from a man.
2 – To Show Your Initiative
In the workplace, women often feel like they have a lot to prove. Therefore, seeking a professional mentor can feel like admitting you’re not capable enough or tough enough to pave your own way. On the contrary, seeking a mentor shows that you have ambition and commitment. It’s evidence that you take your position seriously and will actively seek out whatever help and resources are necessary for success.
3 – To Gain Affirmation
Imposter syndrome is another issue many young professional women face. Imagine the encouragement in hearing a veteran professional woman say to you, “Don’t worry, I felt the same way when I started here.” Seeking out someone who once stood where you’re standing and is excited to help you move forward isn’t a means of fishing for compliments or massaging your ego. It’s smart. We all need an objective voice to remind us of the bigger picture sometimes.
Three Reasons for Women to Be Mentors
1 – To Model that Women Have Valuable Wisdom and Experience
If you are a professional woman with a stockpile of hard-won achievements and cautionary tales, consider sharing them with younger professionals, male and female alike, in a mentorship relationship. Not only will mentoring help your mentees succeed, when they do, it’ll show everyone else just how much you have to share.
2 – Help Create the Workplace You Want
If you want a workplace where more women are listened to, respected, and given equal opportunities, then you can help contribute by investing in those women. Help them learn how to navigate difficult situations, especially those unique to a woman. But also, just help them learn the ropes and be really stinking good at what they do. The more women who are successful at their jobs, the more of them are likely to continue in those jobs and move into higher positions.
3 – Show Your Leadership Potential
Speaking of higher positions, if you’re looking to move up the ladder, a great way to exhibit (and hone) your leadership potential is through mentoring. It will show your coworkers and supervisors that you are willing and able to put in extra time to help others learn and grow. When you’re in that next big interview and you’re asked to describe a time you successfully coached or supervised someone, you’ll be ready to answer.
Need Help Balancing Your Work Life?
Are you a professional woman striving for excellence in the workplace while also maintaining your mental health? I’m Ashley Pichardo, a licensed mental health counselor, and I’m here to help. When you’re ready, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
