Management
Mentorship
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Mentorship is part of our Product Management Career Leveling Framework. Explore next steps in your career from this industry-standard model.
Intro to Mentorship
Mentorship is a relationship between a more experienced individual and a less experienced one, aimed at personal and professional development. It is a powerful tool for career advancement, personal growth, and knowledge transfer.
These Are The Differences Between Mentors, Advisors, and CoachesGiven the frequent use, and sometimes interchangeable use, of these 3 terms, Zak set out to define them: • A Mentor is a role model - somebody you may want to be or emulate, who you can learn from • An Advisor is usually a more formal relationship than a mentor, and usually has specific expertise that is applied to specific projects • Coaches facilitate learning, focus, and results. They usually have had formal training on Coaching methodologies, and are usually able to speak to past results they've delivered to coachees.
We Studied 100 Mentor-Mentee Matches — Here’s What Makes Mentorship WorkWhitnie covers the lessons learned from First Round Capital's successful mentorship program: • How to Find the Right Match • Set the Right Ground Rules • The 10 Commandments of Mentorship
How to be a Mentor
Being a mentor requires specific skills, such as Active Listening, Empathy, feedback, and Coaching. Mentors should provide guidance, support, and challenge to their mentees, while respecting their autonomy and goals. They should also model ethical behavior and promote Diversity And Inclusion.
The Surprisingly Simple Way to Be the Best Mentor EverEric provides advice on the structure he's developed over time to provide value as a mentor. He covers: • A mentor’s toolbelt • Kicking off the mentorship • Meeting cadence
What does sponsorship look like?Lara defines sponsorship as "being on the hook to help get someone promoted." She covers these steps to do that: • When do we raise up names? • Examples of sponsorship • Be a better mentor by listening more • Explore why this might feel icky to you
How to be a Mentee
Being a mentee involves being proactive, open-minded, and willing to learn. Mentees should set clear goals, communicate their needs, and seek feedback. They should also respect their mentor's time and expertise, and be accountable for their own growth.
Building Mentor RelationshipsDavid Hahn shares how mentors influenced him throughout the various stages of his career and how he thinks about helping the people he mentors. He covers: • Take the longview • Create a portfolio of mentors • Start on the right foot by establishing context • Understand the value to the mentor • Make your own decisions
How to Design a Mentorship Program
Designing a mentorship program involves defining its purpose, target audience, and scope. It also requires selecting mentors and mentees, matching them based on their goals and interests, and establishing clear expectations and guidelines. Program evaluation and continuous improvement are also essential.
How to launch a successful mentorship programJossie walks us through a 6-step process for launching and managing an internal mentorship program that she used at Tile: • Launching a Mentoring Program • Timeline and Process for Mentoring • Mentor/Mentee Matchmaking • Mentorship Training • Analysis of Mentoring • End of Mentoring Celebration