Making professional decisions can be tough, whether it’s a career move, new business idea, or an important meeting with a supervisor. You don’t have to be alone when doing this, though. You can tap into your network or, even better, find a mentor to help guide you!
One of our FLEX members, Ashley McCauley of Rossbacher Insurance, has seen the presence of a mentor make a huge difference throughout her career.
“I can’t imagine making a career move without discussing it first with my mentors,” she said. “As difficult as it has been to make decisions, I listened every time to my mentors and they were always right. They saw the big picture when I could only focus on the here and now.”
Some advice Ashley gives for finding and working with mentors includes:
- Find a mentor outside of your field for a different perspective
- Don’t limit yourself to one mentor
- Make sure your mentor knows your strengths and believes in you
- Ask them questions and don’t pretend to know everything
- Always remind them of your long term goals
- Listen to the qualities your mentor points out in you and use them to your advantage
Mentoring isn’t mandated training; it’s a voluntary, professional relationship that can make a significant impact in your professional journey. If you haven’t already, we encourage you to seek out those professionals you know of who could be great mentors and help advise you throughout your career.
Need help finding a great mentor for you? Don’t hesitate to reach out to FLEX!
This article was published in the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce’s July 2018 edition of the VenangoWorks! Newsletter.