Ready to pay your industry insight forward to PCCAPS students as a mentor? Not sure how to prepare yourself to take on the role? We gathered some resources to help potential and current PCCAPS mentors focus in on what mentorship means, as well as what it entails.
Mentors are at the heart of the PCCAPS experience.
Mentor involvement gives more strength to student learning. While our PCCAPS instructors have industry experience in their respective areas, those currently in the industry offer a "public" audience perspective. From technical roadblocks to client management realities, being able to consult with a professional in a supportive environment enhances student learning, confidence, and project quality.
Do you remember You before you were You?
First, let's step back in time to when you were beginning to navigate the world. Enjoy this production by Mentoring.org, the home of The Center for Evidence-based Mentoring.
Who were/are your mentors?
Where would each of us be without the grace and support of our mentors? Who took the time to share a perspective that helped you overcome a challenge? Who has remained an unconditional and steady source of advice along your path?
PCCAPS Aims to Develop Skills, Not Expertise.
Perhaps your comfort zone is the industry subject knowledge you're bringing to the table. But what if you're visiting the PCCAPS space and an instructor says, "Hey, I have a group who could really use some feedback. Do you have time?" Let's assume the students are working in a subject matter you know nothing about. This is still an opportunity for a mentor to provide valuable support to students. Here's why: the goal of PCCAPS is to help develop the core set of skills listed below. There are no wrong or right answers. As professionals, we have had to develop the same set of skills, regardless of our expertise.
Self-Management
Perseverance
Problem Solving
Collaboration
Effective Communication
Self-Reflection
Good Work Habits
Quality of Mentor-Mentee Relationships
This Harvard Business Review article by Anthony Tjan offers insight into "What the Best Mentors Do:"
1. Put the relationship before the mentorship.
2. Focus on character rather than
competency.
3. Shout loudly with your optimism, and
keep quiet with your cynicism.
4. Seek only to uncover your mentees’
strengths; look for their underlying
passions, too.
Anthony Tjan, author and entrepreneur, is passionate about developing leaders and committed to a people-first approach in business.
Just Like Vitamins, Mentees are Good for You.
A study, published in the Journal of Vocational Behavior, found that "Compared to colleagues who did not mentor, individuals who served as mentors within their workplace reported greater job satisfaction and commitment to the organization. In addition, higher quality relationships were associated with even greater benefits." A summary of the study can be found HERE.
Additionally, the study reports, "Mentors who engaged in career support perceived that they had greater career success, mentors who engaged in psychosocial support reported being more committed to their workplace, and mentors who engaged in role modeling support reported better job performance."
While PCCAPS understand the benefits of mentor relationships for students, we also promote the transformative and positive benefits for our mentors.
Bunker Lab's 5 Key Traits of a Great Mentor:
We enjoyed this post by Bunker Labs. Their mission is to support returning veteran entrepreneurs start their own business. This post offers five attributes of great mentors:
Experience in the field.
Willing to listen and share.
Able to provide constructive criticism.
Able to let mentee make mistakes.
Willing to offer advice and resources.
Mentorship Resources
These sources track the latest and greatest findings in the world of mentorship and offer perspective from mentors and mentees:
Articles:
Videos:
Industry Publications:
LinkedIn Learning:
For more information about PCCAPS, visit