I was really excited to see Loki Loki client, best-selling author, and fellow Wing Woman Lindsey Pollak host “The Mentoring Remix” talk at The Wing recently. Lindsey is the leading authority on millennials and the multigenerational workplace. Stemming from her new book, “The Remix: How to Lead and Succeed in the Multigenerational Workplace”, Lindsey crafted a captivating presentation that adapted the lessons of the workplace to mentoring. I took some notes and I wanted to pass some of her wisdom on to you.
I really liked/recommend her personal brand exercise:
- jot down three words your clients/coworkers would use to describe you professionally today
- jot down three words you would like your clients/coworkers to use to describe you professionally in a year from now
- now jot down three steps you will take to get there
What do you think? Is it easier to define where you are now or where you want to be?
My thoughts: I think it’s easier for me to know how I’m thought of now—I ask all of my clients for feedback after each project. Have you considered doing something similar? According to Lindsey, your personal brand is your North Star. Making an effort to elicit an honest opinion from clients can ensure you’re representing yourself well.
For Part 2, Lindsey stressed the importance of acknowledging generational differences.
It’s always interesting to think about how different generations communicate, but regardless of generation, it’s important to ask how people want to be communicated with. That’s why I always recommend my clients give their customers lots of ways to reach them on their website. Maybe you prefer email, but someone else might prefer phone or a form!
Interestingly, her new book is called “The Remix.” While the title is meant to reflect the importance of mixing generational communication styles, when Lindsey interviewed DJs about the term, they said it fits her inter-generational expertise perfectly: playing a remix is known to get different generations on the dance floor—the older folks know the original, the younger folks know the new version.
Part 3 was all about mentoring. If you’re thinking of looking for a mentor, here are a couple of tips for mentees:
- Be professionally enthusiastic (take notes!)
- Be specific about the advice/guidance you are seeking.
Are you a mentor? Lindsey also gave some tips for mentors:
- Be mindful of individual differences.
- Keep a file of good advice/ideas/recommendations
A personal advisory board can also be a good way to build a mentor group for your business.
Check out Lindsey’s book here and follow her on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn.
(All photos via Lindsey on Instagram.)