Career Coach: Why You Need A Mentoring Network

In recent years, there has been a move from traditional mentoring – hierarchical, single-pair relationships inside an organization – to that of the developmental network – multi-level, several relationships, inside and outside your organization. Developmental networking is a very powerful way for you to establish a support group for your professional goals and development. This practice expands the traditional mentor/mentee relationship to an awareness of the many people that have guiding roles in your life – one may offer career support, another psycho-social support.

Developmental networking works because the people in your support-circle are providing help in the areas where they have the best expertise, strength, and comfort level. Some might be good listeners, while others might give honest and valuable feedback. Some may provide sponsorship for positions or special projects that will build your skills. 

Here are some ways that you can start building your own network:

Write down your goals. They may be career-oriented or focus on personal development. It may be a career, position, or department to which you aspire to work in or a personal strength you wish to develop. 

Pick your people. For each objective you listed above, make a list of people with whom you have a relationship – or have the opportunity to build one – who can offer some help in that area. Choose a variety of people who can provide something of value based on your knowledge of their strengths and expertise. 

Take action. Generate a list of ways that you can approach each person for assistance. Respect their time and limit the meeting to no more than 30 minutes with a clear objective in mind. Let them know why you are seeing them and ask for the help. Do not ask them to be your mentor. This can be a turn-off. If they become your mentor as a result of strong rapport and mutual satisfaction, this is great. 

I have benefited more from my developmental network than any single mentoring relationship. Here’s how:

You are in control of where the relationship goes. You are making the requests and defining the purpose, scope, and length of the relationship. 
The more the merrier – you don’t have a limit of one pairing, but many people who can provide support for different lengths of time. 
Some of those in your support network may become sponsors and mentors because of the strength of the relationship or how they connect with you. 

–Andrea Zintz, Career Coach