Mary Jane Hurst, author of “Mentor Yourself” an article found on InsideHigherEd.com, says “Professionals who are provided with helpful guidance avoid unnecessary mistakes and distracting anxieties and thereby do their best work”. Do you have a personal mentor? I know I don’t, BUT Mary Jane offers up some advice and strategies on how to be your OWN mentor. Here is a synopsis of the five core strategies mentioned in her article:
Strategy #1
Get a Life: Conceptualize Your Career in the Context of Your Whole Life
Basically what this means is when setting your professional goals keep in mind your values and personal aspirations. Make sure that your decisions maintain a balance in your life on both personal and professional levels.
Strategy #2
Secure Your Own Mask before Attempting to Assist Other Passengers
In short, this strategy forces you to focus on your own goals. To be successful in helping other achieve their goals/dreams you should be well established with respect to your own goals. It’s hard to direct someone else down the right path when you have yet to find it yourself.
Strategy #3
Do unto Others as You Would Have Others Do unto You
While the first two strategies focus on the individual, this strategy reminds you to be kind to those around you because everyone will thrive in a positive and rewarding environment. While climbing that corporate ladder be very mindful of the fingers and toes of your co-workers so as to not step on them on your way to the top!
Strategy #4
Prepare for the Inevitable
Learn from your mistakes and understand that everyone experiences failure. Expect that some days you’re the pigeon and some days you’re the statue!
Strategy #5
Document, Document, Document
Maintain your professional records and paperwork in an organized and easily searchable fashion. Keep as much documentation as possible in regards to different projects or workshops you have attended for future reference when either applying for a promotion or just your yearly review.
What are your thoughts on Mary Jane Hurst’s strategies? Do you have your own mentoring strategies that have helped you in your academic or professional career?
(Read more of the article here.)