Improve Yourself 14: Let Your Mentor and Network Help You

This continues our series on how to improve yourself to get the biggest raises and best promotions

Clark worked hard. He improved both the productivity and quality of his work. He received several promotions. Nevertheless, he suffered from a major character flaw. He lost his temper quickly. Luckily, he had a good mentor who worked with him to tame his temper. He enlisted the help of his network of contacts that included a few social workers. They helped him develop alternative triggers to control his outbursts. As a result, he received three more promotions within the next 10 years.

Mentors Help You Improve

The dictionary defines mentor in two ways:

• Noun “an experienced and trusted advisor” synonyms include “adviser, guide, guru, counselor, consultant
• Verb “advise or training (someone, esp. a younger colleague)”

Effective mentors guide you, advise you, about how to improve your contribution to the organization. They can teach you a variety of skills:

• Technical skills associated with your job
  • Machining, assembly, robotics, and other trades
  • Programming, systems analysis, SAAS, and app development
  • Engineering, drafting, surveying, and designing
  • Sales, marketing, web development, and branding
  • Legal, accounting, psychology, social work, and counseling
• Skills to not only survive, but thrive, in the corporate culture
• Corporate or industry trends and the new skills required for the trends
• Computer programs and applications associated with your work

Your Network Provides the Ability to Learn Other Skills

The people who constitute your network work in a variety of capacities. They may provide a multitude of skills. They may teach you the skills they possess so that you may provide those skills at work. Or, you may ask them to offer their skills to accomplish purposes or objectives that will improve your work team’s ability to perform or achieve a goal.

Each member of your network serves as a source of improvement, just as you may help them improve themselves. Remember, you help them as much as they help you. You possess skills that they may want to learn.

Friday we review how to improve your appearance to get the biggest raises & best promotions

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