WHY MENTORS AND COACHES CAN BOOST YOUR CAREER

With the Covid-19 pandemic having disrupted life as we know it, it’s more important than ever to ensure you are actively taking steps to further your career development. A few key people could make all the difference if you choose them well.

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In a global context where job security is threatened and opportunities are thin on the ground, we are all familiar with the terms role model, mentor, coach, and sponsor – but what are the differences between these roles? More importantly, how can you ensure you build the right team to help you further your career? Here’s a breakdown of the important roles people can play in your career journey.

ROLE MODEL
Role models can be individuals such as celebrities, business moguls or politicians. You might never meet them in person, but they might possess certain skills or traits that you wish to emulate in your own life and career.

Role models can be a positive influence on your career journey, so long as you are clear and conscious about the reasons that lie behind the high regard you have for your heroes. For example, it is not necessarily helpful to admire Patrice Motsepe for his success – rather, conduct research into the traits he possesses that have helped to bring about his success. This way, you can try to foster these positive characteristics – such as hard work, commitment, and innovative thinking, in your own career.



MENTOR
A mentor is similar to a role model because they, too, are someone you look up to or wish to learn from. The key difference is that this is a personal, one-on-one relationship that you will need to develop and nurture.

Mentors are usually older people who work in the same or a similar industry as you, and who have developed the know-how and expertise over many years in their field. They are particularly useful for developing business acumen, gaining insight into management and interpersonal skills, as well as sharing career tips that have been hard-won through experience.

It can be intimidating to approach potential mentors and ask for advice but give it a try; you might be surprised at how receptive people can be to sharing what they know. Remember that although they are the expert, you will need to drive the relationship by actively seeking out their advice and counsel.

Related article: How to get ahead in the Covid job market

DID YOU KNOW?
The legendary Steve Jobs, who co-founded Apple Macintosh in 1976 and was worth a cool 148-billion rand at his death in 2011, mentored Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, who today is worth a staggering 1,443-billion rand.

COACH
A coach will take a more active role in setting the agenda and working with you to achieve clear, established goals. Though they might go by other names (teacher, trainer, or instructor), coaches are typically employed in contexts where the requirement is specific training geared towards clear outcomes. This could include pointers on how to play a musical instrument, help with learning a new software programme, or assistance with devising a strength training or exercise regime.



For those wishing to develop ‘soft skills’ like better communication or enhanced interpersonal skills, life coaches and career coaches can be very helpful. These professionals tend to work with clients from a wide range of industries, imparting skills and training customised to fit the particular needs of the client.

For instance, if you have an impressive skill set but keep finding yourself overlooked in your workplace for promotions and opportunities, assertiveness training might help you to manage a productive confrontation about the situation.

No matter your particular context, it is important to foster a productive working relationship with your coach. Ensure that you are always on the same page regarding your goals, and find a way to clearly monitor your progress, as this is essential for maintaining your motivation levels.

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SPONSOR
The final addition to your career jumpstart team is a sponsor. These are passionate supporters of you and your work, who will advocate for you and try to use their influence to ‘open doors’ for your career, by nominating you for promotions, gigs and assignments, and other opportunities. The sponsor drives this relationship, but – especially in the age of social media – you can take an active role in finding someone who will perform this job for you in the online space. Although you will probably need to pay for these services, it is vital to have someone ‘speaking for you when you are not in the room’. Especially in creative and entertainment industries and sport, which are rife with competition, an effective sponsor can open the door to the turning point in your career.

In summary, it is clear that, to maximise your career chances, you need a team of individuals to support your growth and development. While you work towards becoming more and more like your role models, you need a coach to talk to you, a mentor to talk with you, and a sponsor to talk about you and what you have to offer. With these support structures in place, you can ensure that – even in a dampened economy – your career can continue to spark.

Related article: 5 Social media mistakes that could jeopardise your career

GET MORE INFO
If you would like to learn more, visit Coaches and Mentors of South Africa (COMENSA) at comensa.org.za. COMENSA is recognised by the SA Qualifications Authority, a nonstatutory professional body for coaching and mentoring in South Africa, providing the largest directory of coaches and mentors, protecting the rights of users of coaching and mentoring through an enforceable code of ethics and an ethics complaints procedure.