Personal Coaching: Training For Young Managers
A mentor can provide valuable assistance to anyone who is just starting a career. This is especially true for someone who knows little about corporate bureaucracy. A mentor can help a person master the red tape which is found in many career fields and can ease one’s assimilation into the work force. A good mentor will enhance your career experience.
Many companies these days offer a comprehensive training package for their new employees, though these programs don’t really help you build up a network of associates. A network is a tried and true way to succeed in the business world. Managers who deliberately keep themselves out of the loop run the risk of being on the sidelines when promotion time comes. This may simply be due to the fact that their accomplishments go unnoticed. Having a network can get you the recognition you deserve.
The question arises then how to build a network? The first step is to find a mentor. Next, you should make sure that your mentor is working with the company for quite some time now. Company’s have different organizational structures, therefore, you may choose to talk or not to talk to your upper management. It helps if you are able to find someone at that level. However, if there is proper hierarchical structure in place in your company, then your comfort level will be high with your peers. The tip here is if you choose your mentor carefully and who is at least a level above you, they will act as a bridge for you to the upper management.
Some people may be at a loss for a mentor. Mentors are not found everyday and some people may feel uncomfortable talking to just anyone. These types of people should attend social or philanthropic functions, walk through the break room from time to time, and have conversations with people they wouldn’t normally talk to. While you don’t need to be the social butterfly to make friends, by talking to people you can make business connections and possibly find a mentor.
After getting to know the others in your company you should have a firm idea of the types of personalities with whom you will mesh well and those you won’t. You should also be able to figure out who will give you the best personal coaching. Try and also figure out the informal network that already exists within the company. If you can find the company "connector" (that is the person who knows many other people and who is connecting others with like interests) get to know them as they tend to make the best type of mentor and can further your career.
Once you have chosen a mentor you should maintain contact with that person regularly; at least once a month if not more. Keep them apprised of the projects you are working on and any other major things in your life. Grow a friendship with them. The closer you become and the better each of you understands the other, the better that your mentor can provide personal coaching to you. Good luck!
Most companies have comprehensive training for new employees, but this would not assist you in building an informal network. Experts agree that informal networks are the key to excelling in the business world. Young managers may find themselves shut out when it comes to promotion times if they do not connect to others and simply do their assigned tasks. How do you build a network? Find a mentor, someone who can provide you with personal coaching. Be sure that your mentor has been working with the company for quite some time now and knows who is who and what is what.
Article Source: http://www.search-raven.com
About the Author
George Purdy is a well-known public speaker on personal coaching and has written several articles and essays on this subject matter. Look for great tips and tricks to boost your knowledge on the following site: personal coaching.
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by: GeorgePurdy
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