Craig Goodliffe, CEO & Founder of Cyberbacker.
getty
Being irreplacable in your workplace is becoming more important than ever. The widespread growth in remote work means employees are now competing with a global workforce willing to do things just as well, sometimes for less. How much less? In 2021 in the U.S., the gross national income (GNI), which is a good metric for comparing salary demands, was approximately $70,000. In the Philippines, the 2021 GNI was $3,640. Statistically speaking, workers in the Philippines cost 5% of their U.S.-based peers.
To remain valuable in a market marked by global hiring, you will need help developing your talent and expanding your skill set. One option is to hire a digital mentor. The same technology empowering the world of remote work also makes it easier for you to connect with a mentor and benefit from their experience. Now, you can have digital mentors from anywhere in the world who can help you with self-development.
Still, accessibility is not the only key to having a great mentoring relationship. Connecting is more accessible, but it is still just the first step. Here are three steps you should take to make the most of the increased availability of digital mentors.
Step One: Find the right digital mentor.
If you think of a mentor as someone who knows at least a little more than you and is willing to share that knowledge, then the good news is that mentors are everywhere. The problem is that fewer of them can help you become irreplaceable.
The best mentors will know the specific knowledge you need to become a master at your craft. The mentor you want is the one who has walked the path you want to walk and has acheived what you want to achieve.
So, what is it that you want to do? Launch a startup? Scale a business? Become a better leader, perhaps, or become a better salesperson? Until you know this, you will not be able to identify the best potential mentors for you. After determining your primary goals, you can search the world for the most experienced people in that field and begin pursuing a digital mentoring relationship with them.
Step Two: Have a strategic relationship.
Once you identify the “who,” the next step is to identify the “what.” The best mentor relationship will be very strategic. By defining what you want to achieve on the front end, you will set yourself up to stay focused and reach your goal. You will also give the mentor a chance to assess whether they are willing to provide you with what you seek.
Defining what you want will also allow you to map out a plan for achieving it. How often will you meet? A digital mentor can be very easy to connect with over a phone call, text, email, Zoom or FaceTime, just as a few examples. Make sure your mentor is willing to meet your expectations regarding accessibility.
Additionally, make sure you understand what expectations they have of you. If your mentor has written a book about their experience, they may expect you to read it. If they identify a skill you are lacking, they may ask you to take some steps to acquire it. Before committing, both parties should be clear on their expectations.
As you define your expectations, vulnerability should be on the list. For most people, our online persona is carefully cultivated. For digital mentoring to work, you must avoid the temptation to allow the physical distance to hide uncomfortable but necessary truths. The best learning will happen when you are vulnerable and honest.
Another thing to remember when you dive into a mentoring relationship is that it should be mutually beneficial. What about the relationship will make the exchange rewarding for the mentor? If that is not obvious, take some time to discover what it might be. It may be as simple as allowing them to leave a legacy.
Step Three: Get ready for different.
With traditional mentorships, your mentor is typically someone who works in your office or at least lives in your community. With digital mentors, the geographic boundaries are gone, which can be perfect for someone who wants to grow.
When you connect with a digital mentor on the other side of the country or the other side of the world—both of which are genuine possibilities—you may find someone with a different educational and career background. They may come from a different culture. They may have another belief system. They are different in one way or another, but different is good. After all, you can’t become better until you find different ways to become better.
The best mentors will present you with perspectives that stretch you. You may need to reframe your view of things. You may need a paradigm shift. Remember that you came to the mentor to get something from them that you do not have. It may be that you'll find success when you look at your world, your problems and your goals through the new lens that your mentor provides.
If you are like the rest of us, your success will follow many failures. Thanks to mentors, those failures do not all need to be your own. Leverage the power of digital mentorships to learn from the failures of others and become someone irreplaceable.
Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
