Why you need a Mentor

Engineering like almost any professional career out there, survives due to a vast amount of educational resource which enables all us engineers to down load our knowledge into our students and apprentices skulls. It helps us all to fulfil our most important responsibility. Legacy.

Yes you heard right, mentoring is mandatory - engineers and most professionals cannot avoid pitching in to help shape the next generation of talent.

So who needs a mentor? Why do we need mentors? Where do we find mentors? And when can we call on a mentor?

These questions [as you would expect] have a large amount of possible answers. I have touched upon this several times in the past, as I am very passionate about this subject. To top all this off, I am now co-ordinating business mentors for the networking group that I am a member of. I get around.

So let's start at the beginning [the best way].

• WHO NEEDS A MENTOR? Firstly anyone who has identified gaps in their knowledge. This includes all students and graduates. But it also includes anyone who is looking to grow, and has ever filled in a company personal and professional development assessment form. These forms prompt you to identify your gaps. Ergo, your gaps in knowledge are required. So - we all need mentors.
• WHY DO WE ALL NEED A MENTOR? This is part explained above. Yes, it is a bit empty saying that we need a mentor because a 'form' says we need a mentor BUT, if you consider mentoring as a skill, then finding a mentee to practise this skill is required also. To meet with the high quality legacy assurances of forward thinking companies and our very own institutions - we all must consider mentoring our responsibility. Other big reasons include;

1. Someone to turn to for support when things are rough.
2. Someone to bounce ideas off before committing to serious actions.
3. Someone to remind us of our goals.
4. Someone to kick us when we begin to make excuses or miss our deadlines.
5. A chance to introduce us to more networking opportunities, and larger groups of like minded people.

• WHERE DO YOU FIND A MENTOR? This is my favourite question. I have been really successful in finding mentors during my life to date. From my parents, to my teachers and all the way through to my line managers - I have always managed to reach out during times of need, and been met with a solid hand shake and a wide smile. To further answer this I have developed a check list of things to look out for;

1. Have a question, but answer it FIRST. Do your bit, if you think you have the answer and need a second opinion - this is a great way to find a mentor. Then you must...
2. ...Look for engagement. Does the person who you have approached look interested? If they are an engineer - then a problem presented to them is most probably going to be like a drug to them. Addiction guaranteed.
3. Do they follow up? If a potential mentor is interested in how you managed to solve your problem, they will contact you. This could be anywhere. In the office kitchen, during the Friday afternoon office pub visit, by email - ANYWHERE. This is a classic sign that they are interested and they have TIME for you.
4. Do they need you? It has already been said that we all need mentors, and they need you. But how much do they need you. Some mentors come with a price tag. These mentors are usually outside of your industry and can add great diversity to your knowledge. If you are just begining your career, I would recommend that you leave this method of finding help until you have a positive plan of action and some experience under your belt. You'll need a mentor for that...
5. During networking events and institution meetings. If your only approach is to land yourself a job - then there are a number of names for people like you. One of them is a 'hunter'. Networking should be more like farming though. Think of these meetings as a chance to sew seeds for your future, and get noticed for the right reasons. Be inquisitive, but if you must concentrate your efforts on one particular person - do your homework on them first. Chasing down every target in the room will not look good on you, and you are more likely to miss an important opportunity to find a mentor who is both knowledgeable and receptive to your needs.
6. Look online for help. Because of social networking sites like LinkedIn, you are far more likely to find someone who is willing to help. You can gauge their skill and knowledge from their comments and postings too. Approach them and be specific about what it is that you WANT.

• WHEN DO YOU CALL ON YOUR MENTOR TO HELP? Simply, when you already have an answer, and need someone to guide you to a fuller decision or inspire you with a change of direction. Mentors are not ideas machines [well, not all of them]. There is only so much that they can do for you, and a mentors biggest complaint about their mentees is that they either i] don't listen, or ii] come to the party empty handed. If at this stage you are asking the question, "what's the point in having a mentor if I have got to think for myself too..." shame on you. A mentor cannot teach you to think for yourself or become self-aware to the point that you are capable of running large teams of engineers or construction workers. They can however help you learn from their mistakes and reach your goals faster and a little less bruised.

"I want to be a Jedi; like my father before me"
"Yeah right blondie. Jog-on and take your useless tin-can droids
with you. HA! Jedi my arse.."

The most important lesson to be learned from all of this is; you need to consider the fact that we all need mentors to inspire us, and to grow.

Have a great weekend.


Engine[er]