THE POWER OF PROFESSIONAL MENTORING Broaden your professional network and cut the learning curve by utilizing a professional mentor By Bryan Lett S o many veterans face a maze of questions and challenges when looking to transition from a military to a civilian career, but finding the right guide can make all the difference in navigating the potential pitfalls. You want a person who has been there before and successfully traveled down that road. A professional mentor—someone who can share their knowledge, experience and advice—may be your key to success. “People go further when other people help them,” said Lida Citroën, author of the best-selling book, “Your Next Mission: A Personal Branding Guide for the Military-to-Civilian Transition , ” which offers veterans the tools to successfully move to meaningful civilian careers. “We’ve all had people help us—it’s natural.” What might not be natural for transitioning service members is asking for help. “The veteran has to get past the thought that asking for help is a sign of weakness,” Citroën said. “It’s not the same as the military. The differences are huge but manageable. All you got to do is ask for a little help. Having a mentor or more than one is like having a professional battle buddy.” Mentoring is important because of not only the knowledge and skills veterans can learn from mentors but also the professional socialization and personal support to facilitate a successful career that mentoring provides. But how do you know if you have the right mentor? “Finding the right one can be hard but is important,” Citroën said. “If you’re training for a marathon, you need coaches who know the equipment and who have completed some marathons. Identifying the right mentor works in a similar way. You have to take an honest look at yourself and identify your gaps so you can plug them. Veterans may want to look at other veterans who have had a successful transition, and it’s OK to have more than one professional mentor.” A healthy mentor-to-mentee relationship involves no monetary investment or ulterior motives. Mentoring in the workplace is a two-way street that benefits both parties. More importantly, for companies, it can help elevate the quality of work, increase productivity, shore up employee retention and create a more positive work environment. “The value of a mentor who can help cultivate leadership skills one-on-one in real time, reduce the anxiety in taking big steps and focus leaders on achieving their goals is huge,” said National Employment Director Jeff Hall. “Being mentored is one of the most valuable and effective development opportunities for employees. Having the guidance, encouragement and support of a trusted and experienced mentor can provide a mentee with 24 DAV MAGAZINE | JULY/AUGUST 2019 | DAV.ORG
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THE POWER OF PROFESSIONAL MENTORING
Bryan Lett
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