Why Your Next Mentor Should Be Outside Your Industry was originally published on Ivy Exec.
Mentorship is one of the best tools for personal and professional growth. However, many people only look for mentors within their own industry. They want someone who has walked the same path and knows the industry in and out. It sounds logical at first, but it can actually hold you back.
Some of the most powerful lessons and life-changing advice will come from people who don’t work in your field at all. A mentor from outside your industry can give you a completely different idea of what success looks like.
Let’s dig into the reasons why your next mentor should be outside your industry.
👉 They Help You Gain Fresh Perspectives
Your colleagues and peers most likely share similar approaches to problem-solving. So, when you spend years in the same industry, you start to see the world through a single lens.
A new mentor can give you a fresh outlook on your career. They see things differently because they don’t follow the same rules you do or have similar workplace habits.
If you’re in healthcare, you might learn innovative customer service strategies from a mentor in hospitality. As a tech executive, you could pick up leadership lessons from a coach who works with athletes.
Cross-industry connections will spark new ideas by expanding your thinking. They challenge you to look at problems in ways you never considered before.
👉 You’ll Get More Honest Feedback
Mentors in your industry are familiar with the politics and know the players with the most influence. They also understand the unspoken rules, which can make it hard for them to give you honest feedback.
When you ask for their input, they may hesitate to be fully honest because they’re worried about how it reflects on their reputation.
A mentor who isn’t part of your industry doesn’t carry that baggage. They won’t worry about stepping on the wrong toes or interfering with the usual order of things. These aspects make their feedback far more objective.
If you tell a mentor in your company that you’re considering a bold career move, they might not warn you or mention the precautions to take. However, an outsider can outrightly tell you if you’re making the right or wrong decision.
Such honesty helps you make informed decisions. Instead of consulting people who are distracted by your job title or the politics of your company, you can focus on getting genuine advice.
👉 You Can Learn Transferable Skills.
Some of the most valuable skills are transferable since you can use them in any field. They include:
- Effective leadership
- Communication
- Strategic thinking
- Creativity
- Resilience
A mentor from outside your industry will shine in these areas because they’ve mastered them in different contexts.
A teacher, for example, might teach you how to explain complex ideas in simple ways. You may then use the skill to improve how you pitch clients or lead meetings. A military veteran, on the other hand, might show you how to use discipline and structure when dealing with stressful projects.
By focusing on transferable skills, you become more versatile, rather than being a specialist in just one field. You can thrive in many environments and expand your job opportunities. Having transferable skills also makes you more valuable than other candidates with a limited skillset.
👉 You’ll Build a Broader Network
Your network will influence your career growth regardless of your skills. If you only connect with people in your industry, your opportunities will be limited to a small world.
A mentor outside your industry expands your reach. They’ll introduce you to people you’d never meet otherwise. Further, they can open doors to professional communities, industries, and markets you may have never considered.
For example, if you’re in finance and your mentor is an entrepreneur in the food industry, they might connect you to investors. They could also help you befriend some of the best marketers and creatives who can bring your career to the limelight.
When you have a broader professional network, it becomes easier to adapt to changes. If your industry becomes unstable, your connections in other fields can help you move forward. They may recommend you for leadership roles in their company, so you don’t spend a lot of time job hunting.
👉 You Can Boost Your Creativity and Innovation.
Creativity often comes from combining unrelated ideas. When you expose yourself to people who think differently, you naturally see things from unique angles. Mentors outside your industry introduce you to a new world. They show you unique ways to achieve success that you won’t learn in your current field.
If you have a mentor who runs a nonprofit, they might teach you how to inspire people with limited resources. These creative sparks will help you reimagine your career’s future. Besides, they encourage you to make bold moves that you’ve been doubting, like starting a business with limited capital.
When you learn to embrace ideas from different fields, you’ll stop competing on the same playing field as everyone else in your industry. You can level up and stop limiting yourself based on industry norms.
👉 The Right Mentor Helps You Expand Your Identity
Many professionals tie their entire identity to their industry. They introduce themselves with their title and forget that it doesn’t tell the full story of who they are. While it’s great to be proud of your profession, it can also be limiting.
A new mentor will remind you that you’re more than your job title. They can help you grow as a person, instead of just as a professional. Additionally, they’ll push you to prioritize other things like:
- Your values and purpose
- Work-life balance
- Long-term career fulfilment
Such guidance will be helpful during a career transition, as it can ensure you fully utilize your capabilities.
Step Outside the Bubble With a New Mentor
Mentors inside your industry can be valuable because they understand your work. However, someone from a different field will offer fresh perspectives and spark your creativity. They may also help you advance your career with transferable skills and a broader professional network.
Choose a mentor outside your industry to get feedback that’s free from personal or professional biases. Grow beyond your job title by realizing your potential and ensuring your career path aligns with your purpose.
