Finding and Learning from Mentors

It’s become common advice that at some point in your career, you’ll need a mentor who’s been there before and can help guide you through forks in the road and tough decisions that need to be made. It’s when the hackneyed question, “Where do you see yourself in five years?” becomes real. 

In politics, navigating that question is even tougher because deciding to step into the arena is a tough choice to begin with, and what to do once you’re there is arguably tougher. In politics it’s not just having a distinct voice, passion for a community and issues, a smart campaign strategy, and funding—you need the support of a mentor who knows what you’re going through and what’s next.

Of course, it’s near impossible to succeed in politics without having a safety net of friends and family: to lean on for emotional support, sometimes to test your message and approach, and if you’re planning to be a candidate—to help get the word out about your campaign.

But whether it’s making the decision to go into politics or navigating a difficult strategic decision once you are, you’ll find that someone who has been in your shoes before is crucial. Furthermore, there is certainly no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to mentorship, so you can have a variety of mentors to help guide you through particular situations related to the office or role you’re interested in.

Beyond that mutual understanding, there are several benefits to mentorship for the mentee.

Coaching

A mentee-mentor relationship is like a player-coach relationship. Your mentor will naturally offer advice to you based on their experience, but you can also ask them specific questions or even practice skills you want to hone. For example, if you aren’t confident about your public-speaking skills quite yet, you might give them a preview of a speech you plan to give and ask for their honest critique. Mentors want to pass their skills onto you.

Strategic advisement

Having people to give you feedback on a campaign message before launching it is vital, no matter what stage of your political career you’re at. Even slight tweaks to your language is important, whether it’s a simple outreach email or a public speech. It isn’t a science, so every mentor will have different experience with what works and what doesn’t—making a mentor who shares your background or experience prior to politics invaluable.

Networking

In politics, having a foundation of support is a building block everyone shares, from activists to operatives to the candidates themselves. Mentors can introduce you to like-minded folks who are passionate about the issues or communities you are, and help you build that foundation.

Some departments in government offer mentorship programs, but you have to already have your foot in the door to engage with them. What do you do if you haven’t made the decision to open the door yet?

Once again, there is no one-size-fits-all for mentors. They could be someone you already know, or someone you admire from afar. They could be younger than you. You might not agree on everything they do, but you share core values or background that you do.

Before reaching out to a potential mentor, what’s important is to lay out your goals. What do you want to achieve in the near- and long-term? Why do you think this mentor will be able to help you with that? Are you ready to be transparent with this person? A successful mentee-mentor relationship cannot function without trust—you’re going on a journey together and need to be able to share thoughts candidly.

If you’re ready to step into the political arena, have a willingness to be open, ask thoughtful questions, and be respectful—after all, a mentor needs their own time and space—then finding mentors is the best first step. Do your research, write a thoughtful email, and take your shot. You might be surprised who is willing to help you.

At Nominee, we can help you find the mentor who’s right for you. Check out some of our roster of mentors across Canada, pulling from a variety of backgrounds, provinces, and levels of government, who are all available for 1:1 sessions.