Seventy percent of jobs are found through networking, according to a BusinessWeek article. Lori George Billingsley, director of issues communications at The Coca-Cola Company and past PRSA multicultural communications section chair, claims her mentor of 18 years has been instrumental in helping her secure all of the PR jobs she’s held. PRSSA has gone as far as dedicating an entire month (October) as being PRSA-PRSSA Relationship Month to encourage mentor-protégé relationships between the professional and student societies.
In researching being a PR mentor, I found quite a bit of good information on how to find a public relations mentor, where to find a mentor, and finding the right mentor; however, I wasn’t able to find much on being a PR mentor.
Let’s face it, we’re all doing twice as much with half as much time these days (or at least it seems that way). So why should you invest the time to mentor? Here are my three reasons for becoming a mentor:
- Good way to learn. I’m not necessarily talking about “reverse mentoring,” but it may be as simple (and enlightening) as discovering a new slant on an old strategy, method, or practice. Furthermore, you’ll encounter your protégé’s world and take away that experience. You may even learn something about yourself in the process.
- Expand your network. Many of us work in non-traditional work settings these days, participate in webinars versus group meetings, and generally have less face-time together. Whether you work in a traditional office setting or not, mentoring is a great way to expand your reach. Your protégé today may be a hiring manager or client tomorrow.
- Return the favor. “Pay it forward.” “Share the wealth.” However you want to phrase it, it just plain feels good to help others. When you mentor, you leave a legacy of sorts – your work ethic, character, experience, and even your professional personality are instilled into your mentee.
Still believe you don’t have time to be a mentor? Then, how about participating in social media conversations or participating in Twitter chats such as #PRStudChat, #u30pro, #journchat, or #solopr just to name a few. Arik Hanson thinks this sort of “virtual mentoring” is the wave of the future per his recent vlog post over at The Spinks blog. BurrelleLuce’s own Valerie Simon agrees, commenting “While there is certainly an important value in that old school (one-to-one, face-to-face) mentor/mentee relationship, virtual mentoring offers an important opportunity to gain access to a broad gamut of leaders.”
I’m eager to hear about your mentor relationships and thoughts.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Tressa Robbins, Bill Prickett, APR. Bill Prickett, APR said: RT @tressalynne: Being a Public Relations Mentor – my new blog post @BurrellesLuce http://budurl.com/q29y #PRadvice #pr [...]
Tressa,
GREAT post. I didn’t start out in PR (originally a radio/TV guy), but had great mentors in my former career. The one thing I have run into, in both media and PR, is people that feel threatened and will not mentor the next generation. And if they do offer advice, it is scant.
We all need to make time to mentor and have found Twitter to be a great place to reach out. It’s a win-win situation for me too. I learn a new thing each day by talking to students and I have hopefully taught them something.
Best,
Jason
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This post was mentioned on Twitter by tressalynne: Being a Public Relations Mentor – my new blog post @BurrellesLuce http://budurl.com/q29y #PRadvice #pr…
Mentoring is awesome and if you don’t have time to do it in person, virtual mentoring is a great way to build relationships, share the knowledge you’ve gained over your career journey, and help others on their way. It’s also great because you build this automatic career karma when you do it.
I’ve found virtual mentoring a great way to network with other PR pros through the #solopr chat and through my blog Mopwater PR + Media Notes, a way to find PR interns and assistants, and I’ve learned a lot, too. Some of the best inspiration I get for my book chapters and blog posts come from mentee questions on LinkedIn, Twitter or even the Mopwater Facebook Fan Page .It’s a win-win.
I’m always so surprised (but admittedly, it feels great) when someone attributes a small part of their success to me and the mentorship I’ve provided whether virtual or in person.
Amanda, thank you for your thoughts. It can be downright exhilarating seeing a person flourish and knowing that you may have had a little something to do with it!
Jason, that’s just sad – that you’ve found some people not willing to offer adequate advice. I, too, have learned as much from students as I’ve shared. I really believe it’s a win-win situation.
Hi Tressa
Loved the article – found it thru @arikhanson’s twit feed.
I’ve had the most rewarding mentoring experience over the past two years after I left an agency and two of my team stayed in close touch. It was never a formal “will you mentor me” type scenario, but through long coffee shop discussions, frantic phone calls, and some dipping in to my contact book, I’ve helped both of them find great jobs in the past 18 months, as well as acting as a touchstone on various projects and clients.
It benefits me, as I feel that it is a lot about reinforcing the fundamentals, as teaching forces you to be clear and justify your methodology and opinion… as well as the obvious benefit of seeing two individuals I really value and admire, flourish and grow!
The one area I beg to differ (and no offense meant) is that I often think that the pay it forward / karma objective is self defeating, as it many people seem to be asking the universe for something in return for their good deed, when, actually, the result is reward enough.
So – more mentoring!!
All the best-
Aimee
Aimee, love hearing stories like yours – so inspiring! No offense taken on the karma comment. I actually agree that getting pay-back should not be an *objective* of mentoring but rather it’s an extra benefit.
I found a really good PR mentor a few years back that I’m just now truly learning to appreciate. The principles I learned taught effective business habits and helped me become more assertive.
Tiffany, that’s great! Exactly what mentoring is all about – to help you grow as a professional and a person.
Mentoring is a topic near and dear to my heart as I was blessed with a wonderful mentor who helped me get my start back in the mid-70s and then followed my budding career for more than three years to make sure I was doing and learning the right things.
I am doing my level best these days to emulate Clint Parks’ example, not because I feel I have to…but because I WANT to. If he could devote the time, busy as he was, I certainly can do likewise.
The pleasure comes in the feedback I get from those young…and sometimes not-so-young…mentees who have made successful transitions from college to professional life, or from one career path to another. They are happy in their new endeavors, and they invariably express their desire to help someone as I had helped them.
Mentoring is and always will be an excellent investment in our collective futures.
Thanks for your story, Kirk. I think that is the quote of the day! “Mentoring is and always will be an excellent investment in our collective futures.” That sums it all up.
[...] written about being a public relations mentor in the past, but it’s been a while. Mentoring is something I’m passionate about so I’d like [...]