A Singaporean executive's guide to mentorship

I have read articles, self-help books, and sought out every older working person to share with me their secrets to success. Beside the echoes of peers and superiors regaling their past learning experiences, the one thing they always recommended to me was to find a mentor.

Endeavour Insight analysis found that 33% of New York City tech firms who received mentorship became top performers- three times better than the performance of other New York City tech companies. Apart from business owners, mentorship provides excellent value for employees too. A study by Anton Duvall, Chief Financial Officer Americas of Siemens Building Technologies found that managers who had mentorship received salary raises 3% to 4% higher than those without mentors.

Even one of China’s more prominent business leaders, Jack Ma, shares this sentiment. In a speech to a group of young leaders at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting, the self-made billionaire told his audience, “When you are 20 to 30 years old, you should follow a good boss [and] join a good company to learn how to do things properly.” This piece of advice continues to be the main guiding principle as I build my career.

I was lucky to have found a mentor at my job the day I went in for an interview. Impressed by his keen business sense, shrewd understanding of his clients and employees’ expectations and his tenacity to build a successful business within Singapore’s fintech sector, I did not think twice when I was offered a position on his team. But not everyone is lucky enough to stumble into a mentorship, and even if they do, the mentorship may not always have a fruitful outcome.

So, what can you do to find a mentor, and how do you ensure that you are getting the most out of your mentorship then? Here are some lessons I have learnt over the year at my job that you may find useful in your journey as a mentee.

1. A mentor challenges you

CNBC published a survey they did in 2019 stating that nine out of 10 workers who have a mentor at work feel happier with their jobs, and younger executives find it especially useful to have a mentor guiding them in their career. The study revealed that employees with mentors were also more confident in their abilities at work.

For me, having a mentor has helped me to improve my skills and my capabilities at work. Being the CEO of the company, my mentor constantly pushes me to think critically with tough questions that force me to think, anticipate and plan for the challenges ahead of my actions.

2. A mentor supports you

Learning the ropes from an entrepreneur and being challenged to think about problems from different aspects is a rare opportunity for any newbie mentee. But beyond the guidance you get at work, your mentor’s interest in your well-being can be a motivating factor for you to continue striving for your goals.

As Rick Woolworth, co-founder and president of Telemachus, a non-profit organisation with a mission of mentoring emerging leaders, penned his advice on leadership and people management in an article in the Harvard Business Review, “Great mentors focus on the whole person, not just their career.”

As a fresh graduate stepping into the world of business within the fintech industry, there are still moments where I feel unsure of my footing.

Caring for my mental and emotional well-being in addition to my professional career, my time at CoAssets evolved from just another job to an influential moment in my career path.

3. A mentor is someone aspirational

For the minority who do have a mentor at work, it is also important for you to recognise if your mentor is the right one for you. Bad mentors do exist, and they can be toxic to your work-life. In a joint-research at the University of Georgia, Southern Methodist University and the University of Wisconsin, psychologists found that band mentors can leave you with detrimental effects on your physical and mental well-being.

But as pointed out in an article on Glassdoor, spotting a bad mentor can be difficult. You may want to seek advice from someone because you feel more comfortable talking with them, or because they have certain qualities that you wish you had. Perhaps they give you support in the past to get your job done. Having someone who can provide and advice in navigating challenging work situations is important. However, ill-advice and support can have opposing results in what you hope to achieve in your career.

A good practice is to take the time to get to know the person before pursuing a mentorship with them. Whilst you may admire someone for qualities they exhibit at their jobs, getting to know the person’s character and their experience can help you understand where their strengths lie and if both of parties will be able to have a constructive mentorship. By getting to know your potential mentors, you can avoid ending up with a bad one.

4. A mentor is a guide

My career success means a lot to me, so I make it a point to map out my career objectives over the short-term and the long-term. Throughout my mentorship, I was given a front-row seat to the challenges faced with running an enterprise, and the opportunity to learn the ropes of the business from my mentor, who is also the CEO of the firm. Whilst I continue to push myself to be more proactive and independent at my job, I am also glad to have a mentor who can guide me on my path to starting my own business.