The Juniors and Programmer, Eric Bruns definitely "not" posing for the sake of this article.
It’s that time of year we’re most likely focused on giving. The leadership team at Ablesoft suggested in lieu of a holiday bonus, the gift of satisfaction would be given to employees in the establishing a mentorship program. This idea was met with swift mutiny from the rest of the staff, but once the dust settled (and bruises were iced), conversation about the benefits gained from a mentorship-relationship between senior staff members and less experienced co-workers influenced this guide.
Six tips for mentors to cultivatie a workspace for mentees to thrive:
1. Be a teacher, not just a resource
Ultimately, your goal as mentor is to equip your counterpart with skills that guide them toward self-sufficiency. Junior developers can grow their personal set of skills by continuously exposing themselves to real projects and discovering problem-solving methods. By purposefully diving deeper than surface responses from their mentor, it won’t be long before the mentee is able to work independently.
2. Nurture opportunities for shared growth
The faster a mentee can feel they are contributing to the team the better. It’s always exciting when a junior developer submits “billable work” to clients for the first time, but their contributions to the team can be delivered sooner. For example, if a new customer requires the use of a technology that the junior developer is more familiar with than the rest of the team, you may give them an opportunity to teach the more senior employees on its features and value. A promising developer who can contribute to the team early will build confidence and momentum faster.
3. Remember your first day
Your mindset when mentoring can be positively influenced by putting yourself in their shoes and remembering your first weeks (or years) on the job. I asked the current junior staff members at Ablesoft what has been most impactful during their training and the adjectives ‘patience’, ‘time’, and ‘grace’ seemed to be the common sentiment. They were thankful for experienced co-workers taking the time to patiently guide them through new environments and offer solutions to mistakes that hindered progress. They felt safe to learn at their own pace. Make it a habit to regularly reflect on your own experience when you were fresh – what impacted you most positively? Do more of it. What impacted you negatively? Do better.
4. View mentoring as an investment
Titles aside, if your team is expanding, junior employees are probably among the new hires. Whether you are obligated to take on a mentee or not, your team will benefit from the time you spend effectively mentoring juniors.
The team will eventually benefit as the juniors grow more independent and are able to handle jobs without as much direct supervision. But to do this effectively, they require the time of a mentor who can provide them with the necessary training and direction.
5. Communicate often with humility
Your mentee may feel the pressure of ‘imposter syndrome’ and you might feel pressured to know all the answers. Setting your mentee at ease by being honest about your knowledge gaps will encourage them to ask questions. Eric Bruns, Programmer, notes that it is important for mentees to not be afraid to ask questions. “Asking questions can be difficult for some people who want to try and figure everything out on their own, but ultimately if the answered could be learned quicker, that is helpful for both parties.
6) Mentor where it is valued
At times the conversation between a mentor and mentee may extend beyond work into practical life skills. As a mentor, sharing past mistakes or habits that have brought yourself much value can be life changing to an employee who is starting off. For one of the team members, a question around Ablesoft’s IRA matching program evolved into meetings around personal finance and budgeting.
Neglecting to invest in mentees is similar to neglecting investing in the systems your business relies on. Both are missed opportunities, at best. At worst, ignoring the needs hurt you long term. Consider our application assessment to know how best to invest in your system.
Bonus Gift:
Next month, our developers wish to offer another gift to better your business software in 2023. Visit our website (here) where we’re just putting on the final bows and wrapping paper.
All hands on deck to mentor the next generation!
Yeah!