NAVIGATING THE PROFESSIONAL JUNGLE: 3 WAYS MENTORSHIP MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE.
WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE. WE’VE GOT (LESS THAN) FUN AND (TOO MANY) GAMES.
In the modern professional landscape, next-gen pros face a unique set of challenges. That is putting it mildly, as all the research suggests its a jungle out there and genZ and young millennials are placed on the food chain like Mowgli before he ever met that kindly panther (Bagheera became a mentor btw…).
If you feel a little lost… you probably are and so are a LOT of professionals your age. One in three have thought regularly of quitting the profession they trained to do simply because of overwhelm and anxiety.
As up-and-comers embark on their careers in today’s hyper-competitive climate, you face
fierce competition and rapidly evolving industries
which bring constant twin pressures of decision-making and work-life balance.
a journey from college graduate to seasoned professional that can be a daunting one
and you are not alone if you find yourself struggling to find your footing in this fast-paced, often unforgiving world.
However, amidst these challenges lies an invaluable resource that often goes untapped: mentorship.
Here are a handful of ways mentorship is a key to unlocking your professional potential over and against the rising sea of the modern workplace, and how PHILOSOPHER KINGS does it way more intentionally than your professional school or even your senior colleagues on the job (the truth is, you should have ALL these kinds of mentorship, but we are here to pick up the slack and help you make connections…)
ON MENTORSHIP (THAT ACTUALLY MOVES YOU UP THE FOOD CHAIN FROM “LOST IN THE JUNGLE” TO “JUNGLE CAT”…)
Mentorship is a time-honored practice of guiding and supporting individuals through their personal and professional journey. It is cloning yourself in someone younger who wants to learn what you know. Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle had learners, Jesus and Rabbi Akiva had disciples, and great modern pros should have mentees.
It can be a total game-changer for young professionals like yourself. A mentor, typically an experienced and seasoned individual in the same field or industry, provides invaluable insights, advice, and support to you, the mentee, as you navigate the complexities of their careers.
Two truths are facing young professionals that Philosopher Kings is trying overcome (because we love you kid):
Professional Colleges all have Core Professional Competency Goals… and almost always fail them. Almost universally, professional colleges KNOW that your interpersonal skills and professional competencies separate the wheat from the chaff in the “real life” employment world.
It’s not that they don’t know it is important; even paramount. It’s that faculty are a) at capacity trying to inculcate a professional discipline to students and 2) outnumbered wildly. Mentorship is a one to one or at least one to five relationship. Faculty could never actually mentor students in these competencies.
Far too few industry professionals are mentoring younger employees, let alone doing it well. The honest to God truth, is that many higher ups do not actually know how to mentor someone, assuming they would like to, because they have not been reflective enough about their own success.
Moreover, less and less boomer and older millennial professionals esteem the newest class of professionals as interested in getting better or as wanting mentorship.
There is a generational MISS happening in almost every workplace in the West, and a lack of mentors and mentees alike who are leaning into the relationship.
This is why the CORE METHODOLOGY of Philosopher Kings coaching is mentoring and raising up mentors in the youngest generation of employees. We take it dead seriously, and we want things to get better for everyone.
Here are a few reasons WE PRIZE MENTORSHIP at Philosopher Kings:
THE POWER OF MENTORSHIP (IN THE WORDS OF EMINEM’S MENTOR, DR. DRE: One. Two. Three to the Four…)
One.
One of the primary ways in which mentorship can benefit you is through providing you with a guidance system. In a world where information overload is the norm, having a mentor who can offer personalized advice based on their own experiences can be incredibly valuable.
Whether it's navigating office politics, making career decisions, or handling work-related challenges, a mentor can provide much-needed clarity and perspective.
Two.
Furthermore, mentorship can help you expand your professional network. In today's interconnected world, relationships and connections play a crucial role in your career growth.
A mentor can open doors, make introductions, and provide access to opportunities that you may not have been able to access on your own.
By leveraging your mentor's network, you can accelerate their growth and expand their horizons.
Three.
Moreover, mentorship can serve as a source of inspiration and motivation. In my own life, I have always had a mentor.
I can not think of a season where I was not in an active and mutual relationship with someone five to ten years ahead of me who was PULLING ME FORWARD to success.
It is actually a beautiful thing to look at who I am today and see how each of my mentors have shaped me.
It is really a principle which can work for you or against you:
YOU BECOME THE COMPOSITE CHARACTER OF YOUR MENTORS.
Or to quote Denzel Washington:
Hang out with four millionaires, and you will become the fifth.
Having a mentor who believes in your potential, offers encouragement, and challenges you to push your boundaries can instill confidence and empower you to strive for excellence.
The mentor's success story can serve as a beacon of hope, showing you that with hard work, dedication, and the right guidance, you can crush your career and life goals.
Four.
In addition to the personal and professional benefits, mentorship can also help you develop critical skills and competencies: i.e. the kind of things you need to survive the work place jungle.
Whether it's honing your communication skills, improving your leadership abilities, or learning how to navigate challenging situations, a mentor can provide hands-on guidance and real-world insights that can help you accelerate your professional and personal growth and development.
IF YOU ARE A YOUNG GUN IN THE PROFESSIONAL WORLD, YOU NEED TO START LOOKING FOR A MENTOR.
However, in order to fully harness the power of mentorship, you must be proactive in seeking out mentors. You have to go out of your way to FIND A MENTOR, ASK FOR THEIR GUIDANCE, and BUILD A MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIP with them.
This requires initiative, open communication, and a willingness to learn and grow. You can do this. We can help. By actively seeking mentorship and investing time and effort in nurturing these relationships, you can unlock your full potential and thrive in your careers.
If you have no idea where to start finding TRUE MENTORSHIP. Start here.
Philosopher kIngs is designed to teach the core professional competencies, interpersonal skills, emotional health, and relational intelligence necessary to not only survive the jungle… but to become the kind of jungle cat that will bring an end to the mentorship crisis. So stick around, Mowgli.
We are profoundly for you, love young professionals, and have your back. …Rawr.