I've crossed paths with some senior PMs when my organisation was delivering to their organisation. They came across as knowledgeable, approachable professionals but we didn't interact enough to build any personal relationship.
Would my best strategy be to ask to pick their brain on something and keep picking if they respond well or would it be better to bluntly propose the mentor-mentee relationship?
How would you feel if someone you have met say five years ago approached you to be their mentor?
When I last had a mentor long time ago it happened naturally due to constant interaction and good rapport. Saving Changes...
Relationships are based on trust. Without trust, the relationship will not be viable for the purpose of mentoring. After all, mentoring is about revealing personal things about each other, under a covenant of privacy and secrecy.
Hi Stephane,
Trust is inherent until it's broken. Also, trust is non-existent until it's earned. Depends on first impressions with that person, I would say. Saving Changes...
Hello Kristian: We had an interim CEO who came to our local hospital. He and I were at a dinner meeting and were seated together. I had admired his knowledge and understanding, but more importantly I was so impressed by his servant leadership style over months of watching him and how he handled challenging circumstances. During our conversation, I shared that I had applied for our corporate mentoring program and said I was waiting to be assigned to a mentor. He replied that he would mentor me if I was interested. I was thrilled, but knew he would be very busy and wondered if he would really take the time to approach this. He not only took the time, but came very prepared to each mentoring session. He gave me homework assignments, recommended books for me to read and I learned so much. I will forever be grateful I was mentored by such an excellent candidate. He has moved on to other work, but we remain in touch and recently he agreed to be a guest speaker at our local PMI chapter. I found a lifelong resource in that mentoring opportunity. I hope the same for you! Mentoring can be very helpful.
Hi Lori,
I am glad for you. It can be career changing or even life changing to have the right mentor, even if only for a while. Saving Changes...
Lonnie PacelliAuthor & President| ProjectManagementAdvisor.comBellevue, Wa, United States
The best mentoring relationships I've been involved in have happened because the mentor demonstrates trustworthiness and transparency and the mentee is comfortable being vulnerable and introspective. If you're not sure about entering into a mentor/mentee relationship try meeting up to three times with an understanding that either party can pull out of the relationship. Just don't force it. Saving Changes...
MARK A ANNUNZIATA, SrVP/EXPERT CONSULTANCY TO THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY| ROMAN STRUCTURES, INC WELLINGTON FLDammam, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia
Wow!
These answers, and maybe the question, do not reflect the reality of the Construction Project Management techniques utilized in the trailer offices on site.
The Project Management Staff Engineers, Safety, Quality Control, Architects, project Control, Doc Control employees are all mentored by the Project Manager. The Project Manager considers it an integral duty to Recruit, Hire, Train, and MENTOR each of his staff members. Staff could be 10, 35, or 150 members. Most Project Managers encourage interaction and communication with the Boss, including an open-door policy.
If you are on a Construction Project the PM will expect you to utilize your opportunity to gain knowledge and understanding through his teachings and mentorship.
If you aspire to become a PM, this is the only way to get there! Construction Project Managers are teachers!
From the Trenches!
M
...
1 reply by Kristian Soini
Jul 17, 2019 2:44 AM
Kristian Soini
...
Hi Mark,
I hear what you are saying. If only my reality was like your reality.
Wow!
These answers, and maybe the question, do not reflect the reality of the Construction Project Management techniques utilized in the trailer offices on site.
The Project Management Staff Engineers, Safety, Quality Control, Architects, project Control, Doc Control employees are all mentored by the Project Manager. The Project Manager considers it an integral duty to Recruit, Hire, Train, and MENTOR each of his staff members. Staff could be 10, 35, or 150 members. Most Project Managers encourage interaction and communication with the Boss, including an open-door policy.
If you are on a Construction Project the PM will expect you to utilize your opportunity to gain knowledge and understanding through his teachings and mentorship.
If you aspire to become a PM, this is the only way to get there! Construction Project Managers are teachers!
From the Trenches!
M
Hi Mark,
I hear what you are saying. If only my reality was like your reality. Saving Changes...
Rachel MProject Manager| NoneRichmond, Va, United States
I am currently searching for a mentor. My organization is too small to find a mentor, and I'm the head of Project Management of all projects and staff of 7. I tried joining the local chapter here, but it seems to touch and go to find a mentor there. I found someone online who charges for mentoring and it looks attractive. Is paying a good route?
...
1 reply by Aaron Porter
May 17, 2021 6:43 PM
Aaron Porter
...
Is the paid mentor specifically a project management mentor, or more of a professional coach? Professional coaches come in all different qualities, but they're really not directing you on how to do things so much as encouraging you to find your own answers and hold you accountable to your commitments. If the paid mentor specializes in project management, can you find examples of this person's work? For example, Spencer Horn is an excellent executive coach, speaker, etc., and he posts presentations on YouTube which allows you to get a feeling for his style, personality, and knowledgeability in his field. Do you know anyone who has used the paid mentor's services? (I would have used Kiron as an example, but I haven't worked with him, directly. I did, however, just find out that he has a YouTube presence that I'll have to look into.)
Working with PMI chapters to find a mentor can be challenging, depending upon how mature the chapter is and the current demand for mentors, among other things. I've been mentoring through my chapter for a few years. From my experience, the mentor/mentee relationship goes better when the mentee knows what he/she wants out of the relationship and is partnered with a mentor who has experience in the relevant area(s).
Paying for a mentor could be a good route if you know at least some of what you need help with (you don't know what you don't know), AND the mentor has experience helping PMs in those areas. A short-term engagement with a paid coach might also be worth considering if you need someone to hold you accountable and push you to refine what you are looking for.
To Kiron's point, posting questions to the community shouldn't hurt. You might not always get the perfect answer, but a paid mentor can't guarantee that, and here there's a chance that someone will point out bad advice, albeit in a professional manner.
I'd offer to help, but I'm still on my journey toward a PMO leadership position and may not have experience in the areas you need help with. But, if you shoot me a message, I'm always happy to help in the areas where I can.
I'd be a bit leery of someone who charges for mentoring. Consulting is a different thing, but mentoring someone is part of giving back to the profession.
Can you provide some more details about what specific topics or goals you have as a mentee as I'm sure someone in the community would be happy to help?
I am currently searching for a mentor. My organization is too small to find a mentor, and I'm the head of Project Management of all projects and staff of 7. I tried joining the local chapter here, but it seems to touch and go to find a mentor there. I found someone online who charges for mentoring and it looks attractive. Is paying a good route?
Is the paid mentor specifically a project management mentor, or more of a professional coach? Professional coaches come in all different qualities, but they're really not directing you on how to do things so much as encouraging you to find your own answers and hold you accountable to your commitments. If the paid mentor specializes in project management, can you find examples of this person's work? For example, Spencer Horn is an excellent executive coach, speaker, etc., and he posts presentations on YouTube which allows you to get a feeling for his style, personality, and knowledgeability in his field. Do you know anyone who has used the paid mentor's services? (I would have used Kiron as an example, but I haven't worked with him, directly. I did, however, just find out that he has a YouTube presence that I'll have to look into.)
Working with PMI chapters to find a mentor can be challenging, depending upon how mature the chapter is and the current demand for mentors, among other things. I've been mentoring through my chapter for a few years. From my experience, the mentor/mentee relationship goes better when the mentee knows what he/she wants out of the relationship and is partnered with a mentor who has experience in the relevant area(s).
Paying for a mentor could be a good route if you know at least some of what you need help with (you don't know what you don't know), AND the mentor has experience helping PMs in those areas. A short-term engagement with a paid coach might also be worth considering if you need someone to hold you accountable and push you to refine what you are looking for.
To Kiron's point, posting questions to the community shouldn't hurt. You might not always get the perfect answer, but a paid mentor can't guarantee that, and here there's a chance that someone will point out bad advice, albeit in a professional manner.
I'd offer to help, but I'm still on my journey toward a PMO leadership position and may not have experience in the areas you need help with. But, if you shoot me a message, I'm always happy to help in the areas where I can. Saving Changes...
Bill DowPMO Director| University of WARenton, Wa, United States
I have been mentoring/coaching for a long time and the connection and respect between the people are critical for this to work. I have seen some relationships work, some not work but both people need to be committed to making it work. Let me know how I can help. Saving Changes...
Anonymous
Before you ask for mentorship, make sure you have a set of guidelines / rules on what you expect from the mentee and mentor roles and from the relationship. For example, when you meet, what will you discuss? How often do you expect to meet? Will the mentor just be your soundboard or do you hope that the mentor will be more proactive ? Saving Changes...
Community Champion
