We’ve talked before about the importance of mentoring and career sponsorship. If you’re looking for tips on developing this for yourself, listen to Episodes 17 and 31.
What’s on my mind today is how you can help serve others through your network and increase access. Over the last few years, I’ve read about what’s called the network gap. We know that most people get their jobs through their networks. What if you’re at a significant disadvantage for having a network that advances your career and helps you achieve your goals for factors that are out of your control? Research shows three factors significantly affect your career: where you grew up, where you went to school, and where you work. This is what LinkedIn termed the network gap. They called attention to it, because they learned from their platform how very valuable an effective network can be.
If you’ve experienced benefits based on these factors, it’s your responsibility and opportunity to provide for others. No matter where you are in your career, you can be a meaningful mentor.
Your One Bold Move: Commit to use your talents and connections to mentor someone outside your network. If you’re up for a bonus, proactively reach out to someone today to reconnect and offer to share your time and expertise.
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