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Having a mentor can make a big difference to a woman’s career, career choices and ability to make the best of those choices.
Why working women in India need mentors
“A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ability within you, than you see in yourself, and helps bring it out of you.” – Bob Proctor
When I became a first-time mother my career gears shifted. Having been on top gear for about a decade, I quickly recognized that as a working mother, “I have to switch gears for some time.”
First, I was on maternity leave. Personally, this in itself was a big change to deal with because my professional identity was a big part of ‘Who’ or ‘What’ I was, and ‘How’ my every day was organized. Second, when I resumed work, my priority was the elusive ‘work life balance’ which most working mothers aspire or strives for. These two factors drove a lot of the career choices and decisions I made at that phase of my life. And these choices and decisions did come with their own pros and cons; which affected both my professional and personal life.
Today, as I look back to connect the dots – I can say that I am happy with the choices and decisions I made. And thankfully, they were possible due to the role played by a few trusted mentors who provided the much need ear and advise when I was going through phases of change, dealing with uncertainty, or was just unsure about myself / things!
I’ve been fortunate to have a couple of mentors as a part of my career journey – They primarily included my father, my husband, ex-managers at work and a couple of close well-wishers and advisors.
So here is the first fact. From my own career journey, I can say that having a ‘real mentor’ can make an ocean of difference in the life and career of women.
And here’s the second fact. The sad reality is that many women leaders have never really had mentors; and so they don’t know what it means to have one or what difference a mentor can make in your life
At the outset, let’s try to define who exactly is a mentor.
Someone who:
While the above list may not be exhaustive, if you can find someone who qualifies for the above, he/she can potentially be your mentor.
Mentors make a difference in a number of ways:
Looking back at my own career journey and in interactions with other women leaders, I can definitely say that there are a few milestones that influence the career choices a woman makes. And during these phases, having a mentor can truly make all the difference:
Career role transitions such as taking up a new role which is very different from her current or past line of work (for e.g., a move from Project Management to Marketing, a move from a customer facing project to internal support project, etc.) either due to personal choice or circumstance
Career breaks due to personal priorities and commitments such as marriage, raising children, spouse’s transfer/re-location, tending to ailing parents, personal health issues, personal emergencies, etc.
Career shifts such as moving from an IT job to becoming an entrepreneur
Career exits such as the decision to not pursue an active career for a finite or infinite time – either by choice or lack of choice
If you’re a woman and at a crucial point in your career, try to find a mentor who can help, guide or advise you. Sometimes, we fail to recognize that people around us such as parents, spouse or friends and relatives can be very good mentors. If only we speak up, share and listen – It can really make a difference.
If you are a leader in a position of influence, play the role of an active mentor to a woman – It can change someone’s career and life!
In conclusion, some food for thought:
I would like to hear your views on the subject. Leave a comment to let me know.
Pic credit: net efekt (Used under a Creative Commons license)
Working Mom • Marketologist - Digital Artisan - Brand Storyteller • Ideapreneur • Writer - Blogger - Columnist • IIMB Alumni • Mentor • Horizon Gazer • Alchemist • Creator - Connector - Catalyst - Collaborator - Community Builder • Chief Happiness Officer of my Life read more...
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Neena was the sole caregiver of Amma and though one would think that Amma was dependent on her, Neena felt otherwise.
Neena inhaled the aroma that emanated from the pan and took a deep breath. The aroma of cumin interspersed with butter transported her back to the modest kitchen in her native village. She could picture her father standing in the kitchen wearing his white crisp kurta as he made delectable concoctions for his only daughter.
Neena grew up in a home where both her parents worked together in tandem to keep the house up and running. She had a blissful childhood in her modest two-room house. The house was small but every nook and cranny gave her memories of a lifetime. Neena’s young heart imagined that her life would follow the same cheerful course. But how wrong she was!
When she was sixteen, the catastrophic clutches of destiny snatched away her parents. They passed away in a road accident and Neena was devastated. Relatives thronged her now gloomy house and soon it was decided that she should be married off.
Women today don’t want to be in a partnership that complicates their lives further. They need an equal partner with whom they can figure out life as a team, playing by each other’s strengths.
We all are familiar with that one annoying aunty who is more interested in our marital status than in the dessert counter at a wedding. But these aunties have somehow become obsolete now. Now they are replaced by men we have in our lives. Friends, family, and even work colleagues. It’s the men who are worried about why we are not saying yes to one among their clans. What is wrong with us? Aren’t we scared of dying alone? Like them?
A recent interaction with a guy friend of mine turned sour when he lectured me about how I would regret not getting married at the right time. He lectured that every event in our lives needs to be completed within a certain timeframe set by society else we are doomed. I wasn’t angry. I was just disappointed to realize that annoying aunties are rapidly doubling in our society. And they don’t just appear at weddings or family functions anymore. They are everywhere. They are the real pandemic.
Let’s examine this a little closer.
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