Should you invest in mentorship? Is it worth your time and money, or should you just figure things out on your own?
Well, mentorship can be a game-changer if you approach it the right way and work with the right mentor. Let’s see if you need a leadership mentor.
I’m sharing 5 signs that show mentorship is right for you. Let’s get into it.
When do you need a leadership mentor?
There can be two situations when you need a leadership mentor:
- You’re promoted or applying for the role, but don’t feel fully prepared.
- You want to step into leading roles, but don’t know how to.
So you are either in the role or want the role, but don’t feel prepared. Maybe you’re a first-time leader and cannot get out of the technical asylum to think like a leader. Or maybe you are aiming for the leadership role but don’t feel qualified or ready for it.
Check out 10 signs you’re ready for a leadership role and what to do if you’re not there yet. This article will give you clarity and help you navigate your next steps. You don’t have to check all the boxes, but you should be firm in your decision and willing to prepare.
5 signs you need a leadership mentor and why
Let’s look at the signs that scream you need a leadership coach. Shall we?
1. You don’t have the time and mental capacity to DIY
It’s no surprise that our jobs eat up the majority of our time. We barely manage our daily tasks after our 9-5. Dedicating time to work on our goals sounds fancy, but in reality, we procrastinate and don’t prioritise our goals. In fact, we procrastinate setting goals too.
And even if you manage to beat procrastination, the next challenge is to navigate the chaos. Where do you start? What resources should you use? How to practice and implement? What’s the roadmap? Just figuring it out drains you and leaves you with no mental energy to actually do the task.
A leadership mentor will help you set the right goals, build a roadmap to achieve them and work with you throughout your journey. The commitment keeps you going and eliminates all forms of procrastination. And the structured path the mentor brings saves you from banging your head against the wall.
2. You’re struggling with confidence and mindset issues
We all have felt imposter at some point in our careers. And technical folks like me feel like leadership isn’t for them. We are so used to having our heads down and working behind the scenes that stepping out of the shadows and being visible feels daunting and out of place.
Then we justify our fears by saying,
“I don’t have the necessary skills”,
“I’m not a people person”,
“I’m an introvert”
and blah blah blah
Let me tell you one thing, it’s all in your head. You’re confused and need someone to clarify and decode your thoughts. If your next career step is clearly leadership, but you’re delaying it because of low confidence, you’re delaying your growth.
Working with a mentor will be of great help. They will give you direction and put you in the right mindset for leadership.
3. You struggle with leadership skills
Great at your job, but aren’t sure about leadership skills? It’s the story of every other tech employee. Leadership is all about soft skills that revolve around people. And I’m aware that not everyone is naturally good with people, but it’s a skill that can be mastered.
A good mentor will walk you through all the necessary skills you need to become a leader. They will help you identify your blind spots, strengthen your soft skills, and apply them in real-world situations.
Explore the 10 soft skills you need to become a leader.
4. You need a guiding hand
You need personalised guidance and a partner to support you and keep you accountable along the way. You want someone to keep you in the right mindset and encourage you to not just learn but implement your learnings to actually make progress.
You want a partner, a guide, a listening ear who understands your struggles and guides you when you hit roadblocks and need feedback on what worked and what can be improved.
5. You want to fast-track your growth
If you are passionate about what you want, you will achieve it with or without a mentor. The difference will be the journey.
Without a mentor, it’s a zigzag path with multiple detours and hurdles where you’re alone to navigate. With a mentor, it’s a straight path that leads you to your goals. Your mentor has already walked that route and knows how to handle its challenges. They offer you their wisdom, making the path smooth and straight for you.
Need a leadership mentor? This is your next step
If you relate to this article, you can benefit from mentorship. Your next step should be to look for the right leadership mentor. I have a detailed guide on finding a mentor that aligns with your goal and values, because alignment is important. Working with the wrong mentor will leave you more confused. Not because they were not a good mentor, but because they were not the right fit for you.
If you belong to the data industry, you don’t need to look anywhere else. My mentorship program is designed for data professionals to help them build the necessary skills for leadership. It’s one-on-one leadership mentoring that enables you to confidently demonstrate your leadership potential and secure leadership roles.
