Where do you start when you are stuck? They say find a stepping stone… but how?
Two years ago, I got the opportunity to join an organization with an audacious vision. One that nurtures young talent wholesomely and leaves you a better leader, what we like to call; an Innovation Leader. I was fresh out of college with barely any skills. Much as I had engaged in various projects, I had never worked in a team let alone an organization.
This is a story of how I mastered a new art as I navigated my growth journey as a mobile developer. While at it, I will share some tips on how to secure yourself a mentor.
When I joined the Innovation Fellowship program at Impact Africa Network, I needed someone to hold my hand and at least show me the way around the industry. Luckily, the program had already established a robust learning and development program which included a mentor network of professionals across the world who come on board to coach, host learning sessions and fireside chats; all designed to support our growth.
My search for a mentor was easily facilitated by our L&D team. They were hands-on with helping me identify the right mentor fit for my skills gaps. I was connected with a personal coach and for the next few months, my mentorship sessions were nothing short of constant knowledge, introduction to industry standards, and access to limitless resources. John Ashaba, a software engineer from Uganda, set a great foundation for me as I kickstarted my development path. I remain indebted.
Is it possible to have more than one mentor? Yes, mentors exist to support you in different regards. Therefore, you can take up a life coach, career mentor, or talent mentor. My quest to excel in my career and as an all-rounded individual drove me to seek multiple mentors. Currently, they stand at 3; and I can say that my life has never been the same again. This is how I discovered my passion for connecting teams with mentors and teaching my peers how to access mentors themselves.
Getting started
I’m happy to share a guide that has been handy in my quest to find mentors for myself, and the teams I collaborate with.
Are you there mentally? The first step is to prepare your mind. Do you have the desire to grow? Secondly, you need to be aware of your black spots. What weaknesses do you have? Can you identify particular gaps in your career or learning path? This will serve as part of your filtration process as you identify a fit for yourself.
Let's set you up
You’ll need 3 main tools: Linkedin, SalesQL, and Grammarly. The good news is that you can access these tools for free!
Usually, before a mentor agrees to have you as a mentee, they have to review your request, and this involves looking you up in order to get a glance at who you are. Your personal brand speaks louder for you. So for that reason, your LinkedIn profile should be updated. Simple things like the Bio section, Education section, Experience section, and Activity/Feature section are important.
Mentor outreach is a lot like dressing up for an event. “Haya, sasa twende tuimpress”. Most professionals are on Linkedin; and with SalesQl, you are able to access their emails for communication.
We start by shortlisting potential mentors from LinkedIn and extract their emails using SalesQl. You need to increase your chances of landing a mentor by having more options. Here is a quick summary;
- Log onto LinkedIn and search the field you need a mentor in
- Apply filters, run it, and see results.
- Compile your list and install SalesQL.
It's as simple as ABC. In case you need more clarification, learn more from this presentation.
Sample of a search and filter
I mentioned Grammarly earlier on. This tool will help you to rate and refine your email messaging when reaching out. Send your first email and a follow-up email 2 weeks later for better results. Sometimes, people we reach out to may get busy and may miss the email. Therefore, extend them some grace and send a reminder after a period of time. However, you should also be open to the probability of no response.
The most important thing about a mentor-mentee relationship is ownership. Mentors love it when you are in sync, communicate, and give updates often. Plan the sessions, and compile feedback. These are just a few tips.
Below is a snapshot of the secret to an effective mentor-mentee relationship.
Below is a snapshot of the secret to an effective mentor-mentee relationship.
From my own experience, I enjoyed interacting with new people from all over the world and creating new relationships. I started leading the mentor network for our organization’s engineering team over a year ago. So far, we have had 15 mentor sessions, with one particular panel session being the one I take most pride in. This session drove me out of my comfort zone. I successfully pulled it off in under a month; the panel consisted of 8 mentors who were hosted within 2 hours. As nerve-wracking as it was, It helped me develop grit.
A screenshot of the panel session
Currently, our engineering team has grown with mentors cutting across Kenya, Nigeria, India, United States, and even the famous San Francisco.
My parting words to you are these: A mentor is not necessarily someone who is successful, they can also be your peer.
Yours truly.
