Dear community,
We are excited to announce the launch of our new weekly newsletter series, "11"! Starting today, we will share valuable development and career advice to help you grow and succeed in your professional journey.
At Mentoring Club, we believe in the power of continuous learning and personal growth. That's why we've created this platform. With our weekly newsletter "11" we want to provide you with insightful tips, expert advice, and practical strategies to enhance your career and personal development. We also want to introduce our newest members, upcoming events, new books in our library and platform changes.
What to Expect:
Every Monday, you’ll receive:
Career Tips: Practical advice to navigate your career path, from job hunting to career transitions.
Personal Development: Strategies to enhance your personal and professional growth.
Mentor Insights: Stories and advice from our community of experienced mentors.
Resource Recommendations: Books, articles, and tools to support your development journey.
Community Highlights: Success stories and achievements from our vibrant community.
Platform news: News about features, bug fixes, and other insights about our work.
We are committed to providing you with the resources and support you need to succeed. With "11", we aim to make your Monday mornings a little brighter and your professional journey a lot more fulfilling.
Career Advice: Finding the Right Balance Between Loyalty and Selfishness
Navigating your career can often feel like a balancing act between staying loyal to your employer and prioritizing your own ambitions. It's crucial to assess your values and goals regularly, reflecting on what truly matters to you. This understanding will help you make decisions that align with both your personal and professional aspirations. Open communication with your employer about your career goals can help uncover opportunities within your current organization that align with your ambitions. Indeed, it is crucial to reframe your development conversions with your manager to the bigger picture: Where do you want to be in 3 years? What do you envision after you leave your current employer? What experience do you need to have? What is needed to get to the level you want to achieve?
At times, you must recognize when it's necessary to prioritize yourself. If an opportunity arises that significantly advances your career, pursue it—even if it means leaving your current role. Setting clear boundaries is essential to ensure you are not overextending yourself out of loyalty, which helps maintain a healthy work-life balance and avoid burnout.
Seek win-win scenarios where your growth benefits both you and your employer. Propose projects that align with your career goals while adding value to the company. Regularly evaluate your career path to ensure it aligns with your long-term objectives, allowing you to stay focused and make necessary adjustments along the way.
Practice self-advocacy by speaking up about your career goals and seeking opportunities that help you achieve them. Building and maintaining strong professional relationships can provide support, advice, and opportunities throughout your career. Learning to say no to tasks or projects that do not align with your goals is crucial, helping you stay focused and avoid unnecessary stress.
While prioritizing your ambitions, be mindful of how your actions affect others. Strive to be considerate and fair in your professional interactions. Regularly reflecting on your career decisions ensures they align with your values and goals, helping you stay true to yourself while navigating your professional journey.
In addition to seeking guidance within your organization, finding mentors outside of work can provide fresh perspectives and valuable insights. Look for mentors in professional associations, industry conferences, and mentoring platforms like the Mentoring Club, ADP List, Plato, or Mentor Me. These online platforms can connect you with experienced professionals offering diverse viewpoints and supporting your career growth.
Finding the right balance between loyalty and selfishness in your career is crucial for long-term success and fulfillment. By following these insights, you can ensure that you stay true to your ambitions without compromising your professional relationships.
New Mentors at The Mentoring Club
We are thrilled to introduce a diverse group of accomplished professionals who have recently joined our mentoring community. Their extensive experience and expertise across various fields are now available to help you navigate your career and personal development. Here’s a glimpse into the impressive backgrounds and mentoring topics of our newest mentors:
Alisha Geary is a freelance digital copywriter and brand strategist passionate about disability advocacy. Specializing in email marketing and website design, she has helped clients like Android Police and quickly grown startups from 0 to 100+ followers in just ten days. Alisha offers invaluable insights into freelancing, marketing, copywriting, content marketing, and SEO.
Maryna Kuzmenko is the Co-Founder and CEO of Petiole, an agritech company that leverages AI and computer vision to enhance agricultural productivity. With a background in law, project management, and technology, Maryna focuses on improving the lives of smallholder farmers in Asia, Africa, and LATAM. She is also a strong advocate for women in agriculture and technology.
Dr. Madan Mohan Tito Ayyalasomayajula
Dr. Madan Mohan Tito Ayyalasomayajula, a Senior Technology Architect at Infosys, brings over two decades of IT experience. With a Doctorate in Computer Science, his expertise spans agile and lean methodologies, artificial intelligence, change management, cloud computing, data science, software engineering, project management, and web development. Dr. Madan is dedicated to guiding the next generation of technologists.
Sathishkumar Chintala is a Senior Software Engineer at Fisher Investments with a proven track record in data transformation strategy. With expertise in SQL, AWS, Python, data warehousing, ETL, Power BI, and big data transformation, he excels in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, cryptocurrencies, software engineering, project management, and web development. Sathishkumar is passionate about fostering leadership and driving business transformation.
Dac-Loc Nguyen is a Project Technical Manager with a strong background in air quality and aerosol science. He specializes in gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. His expertise in these technical areas makes him a valuable mentor for those seeking to advance their scientific and technical knowledge.
Aleks Bolewska-McKenna is a Senior Manager at HubSpot with over 15 years of experience in customer success, account management, and project management. Having worked at companies like Google, Oracle, and Airbnb, she excels in coaching first-time managers, career growth, and creating customer-centric visions. Aleks is passionate about leadership development and guiding individuals through job interviews and career transitions.
Neelam Tewar, founder of Maven Magpie Consulting, is a business strategist, coach, published poet, and TEDx speaker. Her focus areas include authentic leadership, personal branding, social media strategy, and wellness. Neelam’s global experience and dedication to ethical entrepreneurship make her an exceptional business strategy and personal development mentor.
Laura Illand is a Senior Manager of Employee Engagement and Development, supporting over 4000 employees worldwide. With a background in HR operations and a passion for leadership development, Laura specializes in action-driven coaching, leadership skills, and career growth. Her global experience and commitment to empowering leaders make her a valuable guide for first-time managers and seasoned executives alike.
Interesting Articles to read this week
Become the go-to engineer in your organization
To become the go-to engineer, focus on ownership, knowledge sharing, and helping others. Avoid hoarding knowledge and create thorough documentation. Being the go-to person enhances your credibility and trustworthiness, important for senior or lead roles. Specialize in one area, whether a project, technology, or domain, and excel in it. Host learning sessions, write online, and provide consistent support. Building a strong reputation leads to more opportunities and career growth.
For detailed insights, read the full article here.
This Is How To Be A Great Manager
Role Clarity: Great managers select the right people, set clear expectations, motivate, and develop their team members.
Talent Focus: They prioritize talent (innate traits) over skills or knowledge, ensuring people fit their roles.
Time Allocation: Most time is spent with top performers to maximize their potential.
Individual Treatment: Managers treat employees according to their unique needs and preferences.
Strength Utilization: They focus on leveraging strengths rather than fixing weaknesses.
For more details, visit the full article here.
How to Be Direct Without Being Rude
Choose Words Carefully: Avoid emotionally charged and judgmental language.
Balance Honesty with Empathy: Ensure your message is clear but compassionate.
Ask Questions: Engage in inquiry to understand others' perspectives before stating your opinion.
Back Up Statements with Evidence: Provide context and rationale for your views.
Mix Confidence with Humility: Be assertive but acknowledge your limitations.
Avoid Power Abuse: Do not leverage your authority to force compliance.
For a more detailed guide, visit the full article here.
The Six Dimensions of Winning Teams
Goals: Establish clear, shared objectives for team alignment.
Values: Define guiding principles for behavior and interaction.
Rules: Set specific guidelines to translate values into action.
Roles: Assign clear responsibilities to prevent confusion.
Processes: Develop efficient methods for communication and problem-solving.
Individual Commitment: Ensure personal investment in team success.
These dimensions create a framework for high-performing teams by aligning goals, fostering trust, and ensuring efficient collaboration.
For more details, visit the full article here.
Quote of the week
"The biggest problem of success is that the world conspires to stop you doing the thing that you do, because you are successful. There was a day when I looked up and realised that I had become someone who professionally replied to email, and who wrote as a hobby."
— Neil Gaiman
Development Challenge of the Week
Challenge: Enhance Your Networking Skills
This week, we challenge you to step out of your comfort zone and enhance your networking skills. Here’s a simple experiment to try:
Identify Three New Contacts: Find three individuals in your industry or related fields who you believe could provide valuable insights or connections.
Reach Out: Send them a personalized message on LinkedIn, via email, or any other channel. Introduce yourself, mention a common interest or connection, and express your desire to connect and learn from their experience.
Schedule a Conversation: If they respond positively, suggest a brief call or meeting over coffee to discuss mutual interests and opportunities for collaboration.
Networking is a powerful tool for professional growth. Expanding your network opens doors to new opportunities, gain fresh perspectives, and build relationships that can support your career development.