Why Growth isn’t just about what’s ahead of you, it’s also about who is around you
Like most professionals, I once encountered an all-too-common scenario earlier on in my career.
I was passed up for a promotion.
Amit Nizan is currently VP, Strategy & Insights at WarnerMedia
I thought I had earned it. I hit my goals, I led work that won awards, I wanted more. A few years into my career and with a track record of promotion after performance, this non-move left me perplexed. My boss gently explained that I had done all those things, but that I needed more seasoning and more growth before I was ready for the responsibilities of the next level up.
But how could I grow if it wasn’t up?
That’s when I learned growth wasn’t always about moving ahead, but it was also about deepening my skill sets and widening my purview. There are lateral opportunities for growth, and they are not always linear. I volunteered for different assignments, I took continuing education courses, I read more and most importantly, I sought guidance.
Amit Nizan, M.T. Deco Founder Melissa Blum and the NBC News Marketing team behind-the-scenes at their SXSW x TODAY Show food truck collaboration in 2012
Early on, I was lucky to find informal mentors that helped me navigate some pretty hefty moves. A few years later I found myself naturally building mentor AND mentee relationships as I grew in my career. Some started as friendships, some were more formal, but fundamentally, they are all people I genuinely care about and that care about me.
Mentor/mentee relationships can be a great opportunity for both parties to grow, and so I’d like to offer a few snippets I’ve learned along the way:
For the mentee:
Figure something out together- I believe that you can more easily build a relationship if you’re trying to roll your sleeves up and solve a specific challenge together. Whether that’s how to handle a co-worker or how to get new responsibilities or have better work/life balance, putting your heads together will drive the connection.
Be a two-way street - Remember it’s a two-way relationship and you should genuinely care about the challenges and happenings in your mentor’s life as much as seeking their advice about the challenges and happenings in your own. Not only is this an important human connection but it also helps you potentially learn about a situation that you may face later in your career far before you’re actually exposed to it.
Follow up - Always follow up on your actions and outcomes. For instance, if your goal is to be introduced to a new network or to put in some volunteer hours in a new field or industry, your request and communication should always be clear and to-the-point. You should also be proactive in updating them on any decisions that you’ve made that you sought in their advice on. It’s an important way to show respect for the time and wisdom they shared, and builds trust in the relationship.
For the mentor
Give a hoot – Authenticity is important. It’s rather challenging to be a good mentor to someone unless you’re genuinely connected to their cause, interest or story. If you sense it isn’t the right fit, advise them to seek someone with either more time or more experience in the issues or subjects they are seeking inroads into.
Provide perspective not prescriptions – Share your perspective, but avoid prescribing the path to success, since everyone is an individual. There is no one right way to accomplish a goal or land a dream career. Someone’s idea of success may be very different than the next person’s. All you can do is share your experience, and seek to inspire growth in that person’s professional or personal path.
Hone your leadership skills – If you do not yet have direct reports or opportunities to help facilitate growth in fellow colleagues or employees, use mentorship as an opportunity to provide guidance and share wisdom. Seek junior colleagues that may be a step or two behind you in a similar path, and share what you know as a starting point.
Just as much time as you put into developing other skills and accomplishments to drive your career, investing in Mentor and Mentee relationships will help you grow both as a person and in your chosen endeavors.
Amit Nizan has worked in marketing, strategy, film and entertainment over the greater part of the last two decades. She’s a wife, mother, sister, friend, mentor and mentee to some of the greatest people in the world in her opinion. Amit is currently VP, Strategy & Insights at WarnerMedia; prior to Warner she worked at Samsung, NBC News, SS+K, Maximon Pictures among others and is the co-author of college textbook “Launch: Advertising and Promotion in Real Time.” She was in the Dual Degree MBA/MFA program at NYU and is also a proud Florida Gator.