The Unseen Advantage: Why is Mentoring Your New NetWORTH

Since I started my career in Tech, I've been hearing about the importance of having a mentor - a guide that helps you navigate your career path. As soon as I embarked on a Customer Success career, I proactively looked for a mentor. Coming from a non-traditional background, alongside a steep learning curve I had to do in my role, I believed a mentor would be a vital guide on that journey. Indeed, I experienced first-hand how developing a mentoring relationship greatly impacted my career and confidence.

Also, seeing how we've received an overwhelming response to our Women in Customer Success PowerUp mentoring in 2023, I am still convinced that mentoring can propel women and put them in an advantageous position in their roles.

If you are a woman in Customer Success, now is the right time to secure a mentor, if you haven't already done so. Here are seven reasons why you should start with mentoring right now.

1. Get a Valuable (new) Perspective

Having a mentor outside your organisation means that you have a sounding board; a person who can provide valuable perspective on your situations. Whether you want to retell your latest customer interaction or a conversation with your manager, your mentor is perfectly positioned to look at it from an unbiased standpoint, see the facts, identify areas for improvements and share their experience of how they handled a similar situation. In any case, asking for advice on any situation can provide a unique and different perspective you might not have thought of. In a safe and confidential environment.

2. Personal Guidance from an Expert

What is a better way to learn first-hand from someone who's been there and done it than having expert guidance from your mentor? Whether it's about balancing your career and personal life, developing strategic direction for your department, or managing your demanding customers - it's likely your mentor experienced those situations. With a mentor, you can get personalised guidance based on their own experience; successes or mistakes that can help shape your decisions. Isn't it amazing to have access to someone's lessons at your fingerprint?

3. Learn Particular Skills

Are you trying to learn new skills and you signed up for different courses and read tons of material....but something is missing. Trying it out or doing a role play. This is a perfect opportunity to involve your mentor and practice your new skills in a safe environment. Skills development is often the main reason women choose mentors. In particular, women choose mentors who have the skills they would like to learn. Think of negotiating salary or negotiating client renewal, public speaking or developing presentations - those are amazing skills to have and practice at any stage of your career. Why not learn from mentors who are already good at it or have experience using those skills in various environments? The PowerUp Career Compass mentoring program i perfectly suited for women to choose mentors based on their skill set.

4. Increased Self-Confidence

Have you ever been in a situation when you're simply trying to do your best day and day out, but, you're not receiving enough feedback to know whether you're on the right track or what needs improving? Or, you're in your new role and unsure of what and how to make a great impression, although you think you're doing everything you're supposed to. These are all cases where conversations with mentors can help build your confidence in the role. Mentors can assess what you are doing, and how are you communicating and encourage you by validating your ideas or challenging your decisions. This is an amazing way to develop your self-confidence within your role, in a safe environment without internal company bias!t

5. Improved Goal-Setting

We all love setting goals, don't we? Still, how much do we remember those goals when everyday life becomes super busy, challenging and overwhelming? Again, this is the perfect use case for having a mentor! Identify your goals and have your mentor be your accountability buddy who can keep you in check, but also encourage you when you feel depleted, help you manage your time better to focus on your priorities, and help you celebrate your progress. We all could do with more accountability and encouragement!

6. Make a Move into Leadership

Although I personally advocate for the importance of being a leader without necessarily having a leadership title or managing people, if a career in people leadership is what you wish, a mentor is perfectly suited to help you get there. From strategically designing your career path to regular checks, and advice on communicating and advocating for your goals, a mentor can also be a great catalyst for networking, providing introductions and referrals for your next role. Especially if your mentor is a few steps further on a career ladder than you, they can guide you through all the steps, development plans and communication that worked for you to secure their leadership positions. Again, there is a huge advantage in learning from someone's path already taken, including all the successes and lessons they learnt along the way.

7. Growing Your Network

Establishing close relationships with women within your industry is an incredibly valuable asset. Today, relationships and your network are your super-power. It is said that your netWORK is your netWORTH. With PowerUp Career Compass we advocate for a mentoring program of 12 weeks, meaning that you can actually develop FOUR meaningful mentoring relationships in a year! That is HUGE! Alongside your other networking activities, these four mentors can become your best advocates and sponsors. These close relationships will give you a tremendous advantage in the workplace and growing your career. ese

What’s Next?

When I think about my mentors, amazing women in Customer Success, I am incredibly thankful for the time they have given me in answering my questions, challenging me and advising my steps. Mentors are surely one of the reasons I progressed quickly in my Customer Success career, as I had them as my sounding board; or my board of advisors.

If you haven't already, join us for the PowerUp Tribe private career hub, sign up for the Career Compass mentoring launch and take advantage of so many possibilities that mentoring can open up for you. Become a mentor or a mentee - the doors are always open for you!