Mentorship and the Art of Giving Back
How to get the most out of your next mentoring experience
Giving back is a big part of how we do business. There is often a natural give and take in our line of work, and more broadly, in most industries within corporate life. But giving back extends beyond corporate life and finds its way into other aspects of our lives outside of the traditional concept of ‘work’. Recently, I had the opportunity to apply for a mentor role with the Project Management Institute’s Canadian West Coast Chapter. The Chapter is, yet again, offering the PMI Mentorship Program which allows early-career project professionals to work with seasoned senior project managers in a variety of industries. I was a mentor in 2021 and had a fantastic experience. But it all started with becoming a recipient first. I was a protegee when I first earned my PMP designation over ten years ago. The experience was eye-opening and really helped me begin to hone my craft. Now faced with the opportunity to give back, I jumped at the chance as I couldn’t wait to work with a new, freshly-minted project manager to assist in the myriad things we could work through.
Below are some mentoring tips for both mentors and protegees to consider when launching a new mentoring relationship:
- Clarify the scope of the relationship and any expectations you each may have.
For protegees, this means setting the stage for what you hope to gain from the relationship (career navigation or exploration, learning more about the chosen role and field, invitations to events, connections with other industry professionals, etc.) For mentors, this is a helpful step as the relationship can be tailored to the needs of the protegee.
- Help your mentor help you.
This one is specifically for protegees. Once you’ve established clear roles and objectives, keep track of them; stay organized, come prepared. As well, be open to support and change as your needs may adjust over the arc of your mentoring relationship.
- Have fun!
For both mentors and protegees alike, take some time to have fun! Part of building trust is getting to know each other. Make it part of each mentor meeting to focus not just on business, but also getting to know each other personally. Knowing more about each other will help you better communicate and may even give you more or different ideas on how you can collaborate.
- Embrace feedback.
Protegees will need to consider the power of feedback. Direct, actionable feedback is a gift, but some folks can receive less of it. Look for opportunities to receive specific input for improving performance and learning new skills. Whenever possible, share your input in the moment, when it’s most effective. Remember, honest feedback will help you advance more quickly, if this is your desired result.
- Reciprocate and give back
If things do work and you have a smashingly successful mentorship, don’t forget to pay it forward. This includes asking a mentor how you can help them – do not assume that you have nothing to offer just because you’re at an earlier stage in your career. This also includes being a mentor to others. I have worked with several mentorship programs (as mentor, mentee, and behind-the-scenes organizing), and most programs can always use more mentors.
So, participate, learn, grow and give back. You’ll be glad that you did.
Bichon Associates 