Professional membership associations aim to provide an opportunity for their members to grow and develop. Mentorship schemes set up by associations are powerful tools that empower individuals, enabling them to reach new heights in their careers.
Mentorships provide a nurturing environment where well versed professionals can guide and support new members of their industry, creating a relationship based on learning and collaboration. While you may think that the relationship only benefits the mentee, mentors can expect to enhance their leadership skills, gather new perspectives and ideas, and advance their ability to self-reflect.
We’re exploring why mentorships are so important in shaping successful careers, and how they may benefit association members both recent and longstanding:
Industry Expertise & Insights
As a mentee, the most obvious benefit to signing up to a mentorship scheme is the opportunity to tap into the wealth of knowledge and experience that your mentor can provide. Mentors offer insights into industry trends, knowledge of the best working practices, and can help to build a strategy for career advancement.
Following a mentor’s guidance speeds up your learning process. By following their advice, you are less likely to make common mistakes or face many of the setbacks that others in your position may do.
Personalised Guidance & Support
The learning environment created by a mentor/mentee relationship is a personalised one. Unlike general training courses, mentors work closely with their mentees, tailoring their interactions to the mentee’s specific goals and aspirations.
One-on-one meetings offer individualised guidance, career advice and constructive feedback, enabling mentees to identify areas of improvement and continue to build their strengths.
Professional Networking
Building a robust professional network is crucial to individual success in any industry. Engaging in a mentoring scheme in your membership association can help to form connections with other useful contacts within your given industry.
Contacts between mentors and mentees can be shared, providing a mutual benefit to each other. These new contacts can open doors to potential job opportunities, partnerships and collaborations which may not have been available before.
Confidence
If you are new to an industry, a mentor’s guidance will support you through any troubles you have when starting out. Having somebody to look up to for help when you have a “stupid” question will allow for a judgement free learning experience. It’s reassuring to know that the mentor was once in the same shoes as the mentee.
Growth & Development
Mentor-mentee relationships are more than just a means for career advice. Mentors serve as role models, encouraging mentees to explore their strengths, overcome their weaknesses and hone their existing skills. By setting joint goals the mentorship ultimately benefits each party involved.
It doesn’t matter if you are inexperienced and new to your profession, or whether you are well into your tenure, the opportunities that mentorships provide are worth the time invested.
Let us know in the comments how mentorship has helped you in the past!