Find Ways to Weave in Your Wisdom

(pictured here having a peer to peer conversation with other women in business)

“I wanted to let you know that I appreciated your insight and advice when I was having those internal communications challenges all those years ago. It’s stuck with me. Thank you for doing that.” 

Those were the words from a former colleague I ran into recently at an in-person event. He was referring to a coffee conversation we had about how to increase his confidence when presenting to his senior team. He had received feedback that he was too 'in the weeds' when presenting. I had shared with him insights on different communications styles as a way for him to consider how he could better adapt his message.

It was a Mentorship Moment rolled up in a 30 minute coffee chat from 20 years ago when I was still working as a full time senior PR consultant. And yet the benefit of that 30 minutes has rippled forward, compounding in thoughtfulness, increased career success and value.

I know that many of you have benefited from mentor advice. I also know that you’ve also likely provided great insight to either your peers or direct reports. And thank you for doing that.  Research tells us that effective mentorship boosts career success - with mentees being five times more likely to be promoted.

But have you noticed a gap in these types of impromptu meaningful Mentor type exchanges?

Think about it. Are you or your organization expecting the same results from interactions that have become much more transactional than relational in focus?  Or do you still experience the types of organic Mentor Moments that happen when we were full time in person?

Regardless of the answer, it’s worth making the time for those opportunities to share wisdom. One way is to have a Q&A with senior leaders specific to a project of file. Whether that’s virtually or in person, here are a few questions to get you started:

• Have you experienced this type of challenge/project/issue before?
• What was the outcome?
• What did you learn from the experience that has stuck with you?
• If you could ask your future self for advice, what would you have told the more junior you?

In my 20 years of helping organizations build and sustain thriving teams, “communications” has almost always come up in survey results as an management issue. And in these uncertain times, we need to be even more mindful of ensuring we don’t broaden the gap.

Do you know anyone who is experiencing gaps due to remote work? I can help.

To Your Career Success,