By Jean Dorak
The NextGen Leadership Group enjoyed an interactive session on mentoring on February 5. The session was hosted by the International Council of Shopping Centers and sponsored by NYC and Company. Snow is one of the top reasons for event attendance drop off. But don’t share that information with the NYSAE Next Generation Leadership Group, because both spirits and attendance were high at their first convening of 2016. The NYSAE Next Generation Leadership Group is an NYSAE initiative to engage young professionals via mentoring programs with senior leaders, networking opportunities, and platforms to test new ideas.
We were joined by Mentor New York’s Executive Director Jean Lahage Cohen, who facilitated a lively discussion on the importance of mentorship. Cohen shared that "employees who received mentoring were promoted five times more often" and "both mentors and mentees were approximately 20% more likely to get a raise" than people who didn’t have mentoring relationships.
Mentorships are mutually beneficial: The mentor can learn more about themselves as a leader, and mentees are able to see issues from another perspective. One important piece of advice for both mentors and mentees is to listen more than you talk. Make sure to set boundaries and reasonable expectations early on, and don’t be afraid to be wrong every once in a while.
Below are two charts showing what the group shared as the top qualities of mentors and what they learned from them
Top Qualities of a Mentor:
- Honest
- Empathetic
- Open
- Willing to connect mentee to other experts
- Willing to share
- Good listener
- Forward thinking
- Encouraging and Motivating
What Lessons Have You Learned from Your Mentors?
- Believe in yourself
- It’s OK to ask for help
- Leave your comfort zone
- Be assertive/
- Imperfection is OK
- Diversity
- Professionalism
- Be direct about your goals
Cohen added: "Mentees can also be mentors to others." Among the list of the group’s mentees were interns, employees, peers, students at their alma maters, and younger friends. Cohen shared the most valuable qualities of a mentee are being receptive, open to constructive criticism, and the ability to ask questions.
So how do you begin a mentorship? Cohen advised the group that acquiring a new mentor is as simple as inviting them out for coffee to "pick their brain." If they seem like a good fit, go ahead and ask them if they are able to meet once a month or every few months.
I am lucky enough to have not one, but two mentors from one of my first jobs. Ruth Fasoldt, Business Development Manager, ACCA USA, and Jordan Isenstadt, Global Chief Communications Officer, Ducere USA, have both helped to nurture my confidence and help me land my dream job here at the ICSC Foundation by providing career advice along the road. Over five years have passed since an interview with them proved life-changing, and they are still there to guide and encourage me. Now I mentor a graduate from my alma mater, Pace University, and can pay forward all of the feedback, inspiration and time my mentors have put into me.
Jean Dorak is Chair of NYSAE's Next Generation Leadership Group. Jean is Foundation Project Coordinator of the ICSC Foundation, providing oversight of the community outreach program. You can reach her at jdorak@icsc.org, 646-728-3682, or follow her on Twitter at @JeanDorak.