The Importance of Having a Mentor in the Business World

Mentoring is a practice that is often overlooked in the business world. However, having a coach by your side can provide numerous benefits, especially for busy professionals. Not only can you improve your technical proficiency, but a mentor can also offer sound advice on human relations and the development of soft skills. In this article, we will discuss the key benefits of mentorship in the workplace.

1. Become better at your job

Having an experienced mentor can help reduce the time it takes to solve technical problems. This is especially valuable for those working in technical professions such as engineering, database administration, and software development. A mentor can teach you shortcuts while designing a webpage, provide tips on searching a database, or help you understand better ways of creating a mobile app.

According to Weiting Liu, CEO of Codementor, “Good mentors won’t, and shouldn’t, solve everything for you, but having a tested veteran at your side lets you do your job faster and more effectively. The extra time you gain can be spent learning something new (such as leadership skills) or getting a professional certification.” Young engineers and programmers should avoid being stuck on a technical problem that could have been solved in minutes.

2. Know what you need to know

Mentorship is a valuable feedback loop, so long as there is mutual trust and candor. To improve your skills, it is wise to ask your mentor for their thoughts on your strengths and weaknesses. Companies are now hiring candidates across the global labor pool, creating more competition than ever before. Technical workers are facing increasing pressure to deliver milestones at faster turnaround times, and clients expect to work with highly-capable professionals.

“Mentoring gives young developers the opportunity to improve their managerial and other ‘soft’ skills. Also, mentoring can transform engineers into great communicators and future leaders of the organization,” says Liu.

3. Get a fresh perspective

Technical disciplines such as engineering, software programming, and web development are youth-dominated professions. A good mentor can offer honest feedback on your actual performance, providing valuable guidance. It’s essential to have an unbiased individual act as a side mirror and cover your blind spots, especially as recent grads may fall into the trap of being arrogant. John Wooden, the legendary basketball coach, once said, “It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts.” Mentorship can temper a bad attitude and save you from a pink slip.

4. Read between the lines of office politics and personal motivations

When you work for a company, there might be hidden power structures and secret agendas. Without the benefit of institutional knowledge, walking through political landmines can be challenging. A marketing executive who is a significant shareholder of the company may hold the true reins of power, unbeknownst to everyone else. An internal rivalry may cause your proposal to get sabotaged at a big meeting. Or a project manager, who plans to quit their job, may not cooperate with your requests.

Career progression involves not only the science of performance but also the art of human relations. Finding an experienced mentor who knows the ins and outs of how your firm operates is essential, as success requires not just technical proficiency but also cooperation with others.

5. Gain credibility through association

George Washington famously advised: “Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation.” There’s an aspect of social engineering with mentorship that can improve your credibility. When colleagues know you’re getting sound advice from an experienced mentor, they will treat you more seriously. A good mentor can even open doors for you, introducing you to influential people, alerting you to job opportunities, and even vouching for you during a promotion consideration.

“When you start your career, you may not know what’s to be expected or you may have unknowingly developed bad habits. Having an experienced mentor can make sure you start your career the right way by showing you the ropes on how to achieve the highest standards in the industry,” says Liu.

In conclusion, having a mentor in the business world is a valuable and often overlooked practice. Not only can it improve technical proficiency, but it also provides guidance on human relations and development of soft skills. With the benefits of mentorship, from becoming better at your job to gaining credibility through association, it’s no wonder that having a mentor is highly recommended for those seeking success in their professional careers.