For many, the role of the supervisor and your relationship
with them can be both multifaceted and at times complicated. Oftentimes, we
perceive our direct supervisor as that one person who can make or break our
career. But often overlooked is the way
in which they can have a very positive role in our career growth and
progression.
In the course of a formal mentoring program, the supervisor
can prove to be one of our most valuable assets. They are the ones who can observe first hand
the milestones that we have met as well as the pitfalls that may be coming our
way. Our relationship with the
supervisor should be more of a collaborative effort during a mentoring program.
By merely including them in the process, we not only answer any questions that
they may have about the program and our role in it, but we also benefit from
their wisdom of experience.
The following are a few tips to enhance your mentoring
experience:
¨
Include
the supervisor in the design of mentoring plans. When the supervisor becomes part of this
process, they not only add to the brainstorming, but can also be a great
resource of career enhancing opportunities. What better way to enhance your career than to ask your supervisor if
you can have a prominent role in the next team project.
¨
Ask for
advice. We all could benefit from a second opinion at times and who
better to see the overall picture than the next in command. Not only can they
steer us in the right direction, but they can also offer additional background
information that may not have been previously available to us.
¨
Connect
to a new network. By simply
accompanying the supervisor to their next staff meeting or professional
association get-together, we have instantly expanded our professional
network. Not only can we observe what
other members of the association are doing in their fields, but we are also
afforded the prospect of exploring new opportunities for development.
¨
Solicit
constructive feedback. As
difficult as it can be to ask for constructive feedback, when graciously
received, it can have a profound effect on how we do business and more
importantly- how we interact with others. It is often the perception of others (especially those ranked above us)
that makes or breaks a promotion opportunity. When we objectively make those
"corrections” recommended, we can almost immediately see the very real effect
it can have on our everyday dealings and future successes.
Lastly, the inclusion of the supervisor in the mentoring
program should be at minimum, a professional courtesy. If we expand our perceptions, we can
undoubtedly expand our horizons.
ASK
A MENTOR
It is important to keep in mind that your mentor is most
likely a supervisor and has had a number of their own supervisors throughout
the years. The next time you meet with your mentoring partner, ask them to
share their experiences with their current and former supervisors and how they
interacted and benefited from advice and candid feedback. The following are a
few sample questions:
