Self-mentoring is more and more important in today’s business world due to the loss of available mentors. The reasons for the decline of mentors is spelled out in my book “Theory You” which launches the topic of self-mentoring as a means to propel one’s career.  In overview the key reasons for the decline of mentors:

  1. Management skills in general are on the decline thus reducing the number of available, worthwhile mentors.
  2. The rise of technology in business has contributed to a decline in inter-person skills.
  3. The old paradigms are not viable; new paradigms are needed for today’s business world.
  4. Young people today are vastly different from their parents and vastly different from those who might be a potential mentor.
  5. The growth of women in business underscores the need for more female mentors.

Thus the need to self-mentor is due to the above conditions and situations.

5 REASONS SELF-MENTORING IS IMPORTANT TO YOUR CAREER:

1. UNDERSTAND THE PERSONAL ASSETS YOU HAVE TO MANAGE
The self-mentoring process helps you understand the personal assets at your disposal that if properly managed can lead to promotions and eventually the corner office. Once you grasp and fully understand your strengths you are in the best position to manage those strengths to your best advantage. The self-mentoring discipline aids in defining those strengths and also the weaknesses that emanate from those strengths. You have a better picture of you and thus are in better position to manage you both in terms of putting a highlight on your strength and protecting the downside of your weakness.

2. CONVERT KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE INTO ASSETS
As you gain knowledge in your job and have more and more experiences self-mentoring as a discipline will assist you in cataloging your knowledge and experience at the appropriate time. What we do with knowledge makes it valuable. What we learn from experience makes it valuable. Self-mentoring will aid you in converting the currency of knowledge and experience into a most useful savings account ready whenever you need it.

3. HAVE A PROCESS FOR DECISION MAKING
A good manager is a good decision maker. Good decisions come from a good process. The better you understand you, and the better you have converted knowledge and experience into currency the better your ability to make good decisions. No one bats 1000%, but a good process will allow you to reach the Hall of Fame.

4. MAINTAIN A PERSONAL HANDBOOK FOR REFERENCE
Create a place to store your self-mentoring assets. It can be an on line file or a notebook. The key is to have a storage system you can activate whenever necessary. The notebook or handbook can be your physical mentoring tool that you refer to when needed. The discipline of referencing your handbook prior to key decisions or actions will prevent you from hasty decisions you later regret. As a note: try to take as much time as you need before you make a big decision or initiate an important action. The handbook will serve you well.

5. KAIZAN [Constant Improvement]
Kaizan means never be satisfied. Always look to improve; never rest on your laurels. If you don’t constantly improve you will find yourself passed by competitors who did keep improving.

Self-mentoring is a great discipline to enhance your career path, allow your skills to blossom, improve your decision making, outdistance your competition and reach your career goals. It will also assist you in establishing the career path best for you.