Career tribe
By nature, humans are in need of community. We seek companionship whether romantic or platonic in an effort to collaborate on the big assignment, life. Feeling like we belong to a community is an important element of our happiness, only elevated by our ability to contribute to that community. The same drivers that elevate the need for community in our lives are also why it's important for each of us to be deliberate about curating our own career tribe. In the context of work, we often talk about the need for great leaders and mentors. Both of those roles can positively contribute your overall career success, but they are not the only roles that can have positive influence on your career achievements and overall ambition. Let's take a closer look at who should be included in your career tribe.
Not to glaze over the importance of a great leader or mentor, because in the corporate space there's a lot of pretending going on and the need for both is at an all time high. Whether for survival or ego driven, most people are not confident in their capabilities. The demands of corporate jobs have become overly complex and instead of asking for help, most people have decided to pretend they have no concerns about the work they are being asked to do and often avoid even asking questions. While this is typically a side effect of company culture, some of your colleagues are not actually equipped with the communication skills or bravery to ask for the support they need. This is the group that would benefit most from a mentor. They are in survival mode, likely because they are the first in their family to enter the corporate space and possibly the only one amongst their peers who have decided to curate their career in said space. This group would benefit greatly from even peer mentorship. Just having the ability to talk to someone without fear of judgement provides space to get clarity and create a plan.
Mentees are a great source of inspiration. It's important to recall what it once felt like to be new in a space or unclear about your goals and career path. Your ability to share insight about your journey can help your mentee sort out the challenges they are facing. Having conversations with your mentee will remind you of the forgotten parts of your journey. Time creates enough distance in our memory that we often forget the bumps and bruises along the way. Acknowledging what you have overcome throughout your career provides a significant confidence boost. Those obstacles led you to your current state of achievement and the lessons earned (and learned) in the process will propel you towards the career you aspire to have. Every person has the ability to be a mentor, it just requires a mindset shift. Mentees are not expecting their mentor to solve all of their problems or even have the right answers. The ideal mentor is a great listener, offering sound advice is a bonus. The dynamic between a mentor and mentee can be enriching for both parties and are vital roles in a career tribe.
Peer relationships can fulfill many capacities from having a steady person to bounce ideas off of, to a sanity saver. Your colleagues are likely having a similar experience overall, but their perspective and how they have chosen to navigate the workplace can be completely different from your approach. This can be helpful in offering you a new lens to view your challenges through. As you progress in your career, those same peers may become leaders, references, or co-workers at other companies. The great ones become friends and a cohort; special shout out to The Felecia's, a collective of brilliant HR minds that I have had the pleasure of collaborating with over the years.
Leader, mentor, mentee, and peer are the four roles that represent the inner circle of your career tribe. From there, it's easier to identify who belongs in your career tribe and what role they play. Each person, over time, may transition from one role into another. All will be cheerleaders, pushing you to show up as the best version of yourself. Your career tribe understands the importance of keeping you focused and will offer you motivation when you're having a difficult time and deliberately challenge you when you have gone off course. They will support you through your ups and downs, even when they are simply offering a listening ear.
How do you play a vital role in someone else's career tribe?
Who else would you add to your career tribe?
*Written in the living room, on a dreary day with a cup of coffee as a companion.