CPA Mentoring

Mentoring can pay off big, for both you and your firm. Whether you choose an informal or formal mentoring arrangement, remember that the best mentoring relationships require trust and a good quality match between mentor and the mentee. That does not mean that your mentor has to have the same personality that you have or a position that you would like to pursue.

Sometimes a mentor with an outgoing personality can show a timid staffer how to expand his/her leadership skills. A mentor that has followed a different path than you are pursuing can impart knowledge that you will otherwise be unable to obtain. A good mentor can guide you through decision-making, help you develop leadership skills and take your career to new levels.

Do You Need a Mentor?

The following questions will help you to determine if you will benefit from a mentoring program.

• Are you limited in your ability to advance to a new level or take on new projects?
• Do you wish to sharpen your technical or interpersonal skills?
• Do you need to acquire “soft skills,” such as managing people, handling negotiations, resolving personnel conflicts or interacting with clients?
• Are you being considered for a promotion?
• Do you seek professional development or career counseling?
• Are you looking to shift your career focus, perhaps to a new specialty area?
• If you are new to an organization, do you have a clear understanding of the firm’s corporate culture, policies and procedures?

(Reference: "Someone to Look Up to" by Cecil Gregg, Journal of Accountancy, Nov. 1999)