The Importance and Impact of Having a Mentor

Why is having a mentor so impactful?

Sometimes we all need a bit of guidance. Whether you’re a recent graduate just getting into the workforce or a seasoned professional looking to change paths, we all look for someone to lean on and help us navigate those experiences. A lot of times, though, we tend to rely on our existing network of friends, family and co-workers (which can be great, don’t get me wrong). But more often than not, advice from close ones can be a little skewed because it can be hard to tell someone the cold hard truth without hurting their feelings.

That’s why having a mentor is so impactful.

Your relationship with your mentor is primarily based on growth. They are invested in your future and you are invested in theirs. A great mentor is able to guide you through how to handle conflict in the workplace and has no problems telling you that you are in the wrong. A great mentor will gladly encourage you to go back to school or change careers or ask for a promotion when you don’t have the confidence to do so – and the best part is, they will gladly help you figure out how to do it!

Look, we all have friends and family we will ask about these things too, but most of the time they are going to tell you what you want to hear, or just be there to listen as you vent or brainstorm. A true mentor doesn’t hold back when giving you advice because sugar-coating doesn’t benefit either of you. The whole goal is to push each other toward professional growth and improvement.

Where can I find a mentor?

Sometimes a mentorship is informal and just occurs naturally. Maybe it’s someone close in your life that you look up to or a colleague that you find yourself frequently reaching out to for career advice. While having a natural mentor is a fantastic relationship to foster, it tends to fall into the “biased” category. You’ll know if you have a biased relationship with your mentor because you tend to hold back questions relating to:

• Changing careers/jobs
• Workplace conflict
• Relocation
• Going back to school

Or anything else you feel you can’t share because it could cause hurt feelings or cause conflict at work.

When looking for a true mentor, you can always ask someone in your network that you don’t currently have a close relationship with, but someone you aspire to be more like or someone whose career trajectory interests you. Reaching out to someone directly can be intimidating, but it’s also a great way to connect! Be mindful, though, that being a mentor can also be just as daunting, so don’t take it personally if they say no.

Or, much like I did, you can join a mentorship program like SIA’s Talent Inclusion Mentorship Education (TIME) program. Speaking from experience, this program was incredible. When I was matched up with my mentor, I was nervous at first because he didn’t live near me geographically and wasn’t currently in a marketing role, so I wasn’t sure we would be able to connect. Once we started meeting, we clicked instantly over our mutual interest in music and guitars. After finding our common ground and sharing our personal and professional goals, we were able to talk through everything from navigating the pros and cons of attending grad school and whether it would truly be beneficial to how to network at events and trade shows and even how to manage a shift in position as I worked towards my first promotion.

While the mentorship program eventually came to an end, our mentor/mentee relationship never did. We still stay in touch and update each other on progress with our goals or major career updates, and I know I can always rely on my mentor to help me navigate through any situation that arises or keep me accountable for my goals.

Moral of the story: go find yourself a mentor. It will be the best career move you make!

This blog was originally published as an article in RISE Together, SIA RISE‘s newsletter for young security professionals.

The views and opinions expressed in guest posts and/or profiles are those of the authors or sources and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Security Industry Association.