What we can learn from moms about mentoring

By Aimee Cohen, CWCC member

As the proud mother of two teenagers, I’m thrilled to admit that Mother’s Day is one of my favorite days of the year.  I cherish every handmade card, glowing words of appreciation and gratitude, and an endless supply of very special hugs and kisses.  Every parent knows that this is truly t he hardest job in the world and equally the most rewarding. Every parent also knows you can’t do it alone.

It makes me think of the similarities between being a successful parent and a successful professional.  They both “take a village” of friends, family members, supporters, role models, advisors, and mentors to achieve positive results.

As parents, we want the best for our children and often seek the advice of those that have more life experience and are willing to share their words of wisdom.  We are also in the unique position of being the first and most influential mentors in our children’s lives.  We guide them, advise them, protect them, and support them throughout their lives.  Since parenting does not come with a rule book or manual, listening to the life lessons of those role models who have blazed the trail before us is critical to being a successful parent.

The same is true for being a successful professional.  Whether you are in career transition, a fresh grad entering the workforce, a seasoned professional at a crossroads, or happily employed and interested in taking your career to the next level, it’s critical to learn from those we admire and try to emulate the career paths and decisions that led to their success.  Finding the right mentor can have such a positive impact and influence on your professional life.

• 75% of executives interviewed say mentoring has played a key role in their career success.
• 94% of women owning small businesses who have had mentors say the experience was “crucial and very helpful” to their success.
• A study of professionals indicates those who have had mentors earn $5,610 – $22,450 more than those who don’t have mentors.
• A survey in Fortune Magazine indicated that of the top 25 firms, 76% offer mentoring programs.
• Training alone increases managerial productivity by 24%; the combination of mentoring and coaching increases productivity by 88%.
• A survey of college and graduate students showed that 60% said mentoring is a key factor in job selection.

I understand there is a tendency to embody that independent, pioneering spirit, but the reality is that no one achieves greatness alone.  As both parents and professionals, we all could benefit from the guidance, advice, mistakes, and mentoring from those we admire.

Celebrate Mother’s Day in a meaningful way.  Thank your mother for a lifetime of love and support, find a mentor that can help catapult your career, or be a mentor to someone in need of your expertise and inspiration.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful mothers and mentors in the world!!

Aimee Cohen is a Career Expert, Coach, and Speaker.  She owns Cohen Career Consulting, is a contributing writer for the Denver Business Journal, has appeared on Channel 7 and Channel 4 News, and was featured in Denver Woman magazine.  For more than 18 years, she has coached clients in personalized one-on-one consultations, led outplacement transition seminars for Fortune 500 companies, and delivered dynamic career-related presentations to audiences of all sizes.  With a nearly 100% success rate, Aimee empowers people to implement a strategic step-by-step action plan with proven techniques that generate results.  She transforms “job seekers” into “job finders”.