In public relations, you’re constantly developing relationships with journalists and clients. Another relationship that is especially critical for PR practitioners to seek out is with a mentor.
The best mentors are a valuable professional asset and can serve as a sounding board to help guide you in your career.
Here are five dos and don’ts to get the most out of a mentor.
Do – Know your objectives: First things first, before approaching someone to be your mentor, you need to have a clear understanding of your goals and objectives. Do you want to become a better leader? Figure out why you’re not getting promoted at work? Ask yourself what personal areas you want to improve so you can determine how a mentor can help you accomplish your goals.
Don’t – Waste your mentor’s time: Come prepared to your meetings and be respectful of your mentor’s other commitments. Be open to all advice and suggestions and resist the urge to get defensive when critical feedback is provided. Ideally, mentors are also benefitting from this relationship so don’t hold back from expressing your opinions even if that means disagreeing with them. By challenging their beliefs, you’re offering a fresh perspective and earning their respect.
Do – Steal their Wi-Fi: I recently read Mindy Kaling’s book “Why Not Me?,” which included the essay “On Being a Mentor” from Kaling’s former boss Greg Daniels. Daniels is a writer, producer and director who has worked on such television series as “The Office” and “Saturday Night Live.” In his essay, one particular piece of advice comparing finding a mentor to borrowing someone’s Wi-Fi resonated with me:
“You take your mentoring where you can find it, even if it is not being offered to you. Have you ever used your neighbor’s Wi-Fi when it wasn’t on a password? If you have the opportunity to observe someone at work, you are getting mentoring out of them even if they are unaware or resistant. Make a list of people you think would make the greatest mentors and try to get close enough to steal their Wi-Fi.”
Even if you don’t formally ask someone to be your mentor, you can still learn a tremendous amount by simply surrounding yourself with people you admire and incorporating their work habits.
Don’t – Be afraid to move on: Like any relationship, sometimes you outgrow your mentor and that’s normal. While you may move from a weekly coffee date to the occasional “like” on a LinkedIn update, it’s important to thank mentors for their guidance and acknowledge the time they invested in your professional growth. Besides, this is PR and you never know if those relationships may prove useful in the future.
Do – Pay it forward: Look for ways you can share your newfound knowledge with rising PR professionals. By volunteering for a mentors program through your local PRSA chapter or other PR organizations, you’ll reinforce the lessons you’ve learned and have the opportunity to shape someone else’s career path.
Developing worthwhile mentor relationships take time, trust, and follow-through from both parties. Although it’s not an easy pursuit, the connection and experience gained by the mentor and mentee makes it more than worth the effort.