More Meaningful Mentoring

Happy (first March) Thursday!  This month, I’m focusing on maximizing mentorship: How to think about your support system, best practices if you’re currently a mentor and ways to ensure impact if/when you’re a mentee.  Here’s what you need to know in under 2 minutes…

What tech leaders should be thinking about this week: Defining your “Executive Committee.”  While you may have a mentor who you partner with regularly (most don’t, by the way), I’ve found a more meaningful approach to mentoring involves a ton more people. Instead of a single mentor, tech leaders need to build an executive committee that consists of people up/across/down. Thinking in terms of “competency and/or behavior expertise”(communication, influence, health/wellness, etc) is a great way to think about building your Executive Committee of 4-6 people. We’ll go into more detail around how to leverage this group later in the month.  

Why this is important:  In super-simple terms, “the more the merrier”when it comes to maximizing mentorship.  Not only does having an Executive Committee sound cool, but it’s also super effective to ensure you’re showing-up well across your team and to your leaders.  Not having all your mentoring eggs-in-one-basket gives you diverse perspectives, forces you to flex different communication/partnership muscles and opens you to a bigger rolodex if/when you need professional help in the future (think job search, etc.).

Simple “Go-Do’s” for tech leaders/performers:  Spend 15 minutes thinking about what yourExecutive Committee might look like over the next fiscal year.  Ask yourself:

·     What are the areas of focus for each individualacross my Executive Committee. Why are these competencies and/or behaviorsimportant to me and my role?

·     Who can I ask in my network to be a part of thisExecutive Committee? Are there people outside my direct connections that I maywant to ask?

·     How do I want to show-up with these individuals,both from an introduction perspective and a longer-term partnershipperspective? What “vibe” do I want to convey and why?

Value Add – Additional ways to show-up as a leader:  Most of us are turning the clocks forward this Sunday.  Here comes that 7pm+ sunset!  In addition to checking those fire-alarm batteries, now is a great time to acknowledge and thank your team for their hard work.  I didn’t do this enough as an org leader, and now I know how far a simple “thank you”can go for individuals across your team. I bet you’ll feel better too!  

New/improved dedicated newsletter page!  Know someone who’s looking for quick/easy ways to show-up better as a tech leader/performer? Forward them this mail or have them sign-up directly on the new/improved newsletter page on theEngaged Pursuit website.

Here’s to your Engaged Pursuit!