A520.7.3.RB_Importance of Having a Coach and Mentor

A520.7.3.RB_Importance of Having a Coach and Mentor

This is my blog entry on the significance, importance, and/or impact of having a coach and/or a mentor to help me in my professional journey...

Even though the roles of coaches and mentors have some similarities, they also have distinct differences.  It is important to understand those differences as to be able to maximize the benefits of both during your professional journey.

So why are these two roles significant to me?  Why are they so important?  How are these roles of individuals going to assist me with my professional journey?  The next few paragraphs says it all...

As a team member of an organization, I need a coach as part of the team to ensure that there is someone within the team who has learning requisite attitudes, behaviors and skills that are required to perform successfully within my task area and who is task oriented.  I need the Coach to clearly define the vision and stated timeline or duration of the tasks for the team.  The Coach will provide the atmosphere for a more structured approach to the meetings that I attend.  The Coach will ensure that the meetings are scheduled regularly and keep the focus on agenda.  Even though I know the Coach does not need to be knowledgeable in the subject matter, he still will need to build trust, listen effectively, provide clear performance feedback and model effective leadership behaviors of those they are coaching.  It will be a short termed task based role.  An effective Coach is significant to me in my professional journey because they will be the one to ensure for the essential synergy needed meetings and they will be providing me the key elements to participate in a result driven meetings.  It is a very important role for ensuring for my success with the task assignments I receive.  Those successes will be my stepping stone for acceptance of more challenging and rewarding task assignments, as well as recognition for a job well done.

As for a Mentor, I can attest to the value it provided to me in my career.  In my later part of my career as a senior level government civil service employee I was accepted in to an Executive Leadership Program.  I had to compete for this program as only a select few were to be selected to participate.  As part of the Program it required that I select a Senior Executive Service (SES) candidate to formally become my Mentor for the duration of the five-year program.  As such, I entered in to a signed mentoring agreement with the SES Leader for the Headquarters contracts competency.  This entailed my personal and professional goals which also included my educational plans.  In addition, pre-requisite education at the Congressional Level was required to be completed prior to graduating from the Program.  My plan included a timeline for completion of my goals during the five-year period. 

During this time period, I scheduled appointments with my mentor to review my overall plans and goals and professional progress.  In addition to the Program plans and goals, we often discussed our personal lives as well.  It was a very personal, yet professional mentorship.  She was highly recognized within the organization and it was an honor for me to have the opportunity to be part of such a professional growth experience.   Often she would draw on her own professional experiences.  In addition, she provided advice, support and encouragement during the sessions.   I often shared ideas for potential professional plans that could affect my career and she would provide me guidance.  Being part of this program helped me grow professionally in a way that no one else can know unless they are part of a mentoring program.