Paths to Power

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Mentoring and Networking
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR BUDGET AND PROGRAM
ANALYSIS July 28, 2009 Sallyanne Harper Chief
Administrative Officer Chief Financial
Officer, GAO
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Mentoring Defined

• Mentoring is a trusted relationship linking
  employees with experienced staff in a mutually
  beneficial learning situation that fosters
  development and professional growth.
• Mentors serve as role models or coaches who share
  information and guidance from their work and life
  experience.
• Mentors generally have the goal of guiding,
  supporting, and encouraging the development of
  the mentee.

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Why Have a Mentor?

• Get valuable career guidance
• Help define your professional goals
• Boost your skills, confidence, and professional
  development opportunities
• Learn about those unwritten rules in your
  workplace or profession
• Practice your networking skills

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Mentoring is NOT

• Counseling or psychotherapy
• Simply talking with your supervisor
• A full-time, on-call 24/7 resource
• Personal life coaching
• Marriage

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Choosing a Mentor
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Choosing the Right Mentors

• Right person at the right time and for the right
  purpose
• Formal vs. informal
• Peer vs. supervisor
• Do your own personal needs assessment what do I
  want to achieve?

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Networking Theres No Substitute for Personal
Interaction
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Networking Defined

• Networking
• Process that develops and maintains mutually
  supportive and beneficial relationships
• Network
• Set of ongoing relationships with
• Individuals
• Groups
• Institutions

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Why Network?

• Enhance professional development and career
  opportunities
• Provide personal growth and development
• Develop broader perspectives
• Highlight competencies and achieved results
• Meet interesting people

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Networking Right here, right now

• How could you approach others at this seminar?
• What concrete steps can you take to build an
  effective network?

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Getting the Most from Networking

• Build relationships
• Know how and when to network
• Be selective and positive
• Stay in touch (maintain and sustain)
• Continue to add new contacts
• Share knowledge
• Be in charge practice career self-reliance
• Be aware of your online reputationthink before
  you post!

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The Wrong Way to Network

• Remember that others can see what you post. Be
  mindful of what you do and dont want the world
  to see.

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Successful Social Networking

• Maintain a professional, conservative presence
  on sites such as Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter.
• Keep your professional profiles separate from
  personal information and pictures.
• Make a practice of informing others of
  opportunities that may be of interest - and they
  will likely do the same.

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Top Ten Excuses for Not Cultivating Mentors
Networks

• 10. I already use Twitter, Facebook, and a career
  advisor.
• I dont know how to contact the senior leaders in
  my office.
• I sent somebody an email but never heard anything
  back.
• Theres just no time in my schedule I can
  always do it later.
• Im already really confident in my abilities.
• I dont want to bother anyone.
• My circle of friends is already well connected.
• 3. People can already see what a good job Im
  doing.
• Im not looking for a job right now.
• 1. Im not interested in learning how things
  were in the old days.

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Mentoring and Networking
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR BUDGET AND PROGRAM
ANALYSIS July 28, 2009 Sallyanne Harper Chief
Administrative Officer Chief Financial
Officer, GAO