Industry insights
Practicing Mentorship: Bettering Relationships to Elevate the Industry
The AEC industry is a collaborative environment that makes you understand how crucial people are to its success. It’s like the gas in a car. With it, the car functions, without it, it’s motionless and rusts away. That is why it is so important for both young and experienced professionals to find a mentor. Mentorship ignites something within us that helps accelerate development and allows us to reach better opportunities. With a sound mentor, individuals can activate a unique momentum that carries throughout their professional and personal life. There are also special moments that are shared with mentors and things that will always be remembered. The phrases, sayings, and advice that mentors impart will always stick in your mind–it’s invaluable. Forming this type of relationship with someone will be a stepping ladder to both your career and their's. Observation, not old age, brings wisdom.
A good mentor is a lifeline and a source of rich experiences. Learning through their success and fail- ures will catapult a young AEC professional way ahead in their professional life. This will make more room for their growth. But it’s not just the act of observation that will take learning to new levels, but rather the art of inquiring. Getting into the weeds of obtaining the knowledge that will propel some- one forward. It's like opening a bank vault–you have to take your time and be as precise as possible. Mentorship, like the AEC industry, is an evolving topic, changing as we learn more about ourselves and the way we interact with one another. Here are some observations which I believe are foundational to finding mentorship in the AEC industry. 1. Find someone who you like and click with. Whether because of their style, personality, or way of teaching. It better cements your relationship when there is chemistry. When there is humor and laughter it makes everything more enjoyable and allows for the relationship to naturally take place. 2. Reach out. You have to be willing to seek out these mentors that will add value to your life. Showing interest and appreciation towards them will be the glue to the relationship. You also never know who in your firm could be your mentor. That is why being amicable and allowing yourself to get to really know the seasoned individuals of your firm can be a force multiplier. Instead of viewing them as a co-worker or your superior there may be an opportunity for a mentor/mentee relationship. Do you really know all the experienced people at your firm? How many individuals did not have the initiative to personally get to know their coworkers, that they lost the chance of being mentored by someone with vast experience and expertise? Asking these questions and following up will go a long way towards unlocking the potential of relationship building. 3. Listen. This demonstrates the desire to learn. As the saying goes, “ you have two ears, two eyes, and one mouth–use it in proportion”. How many times do we actually listen? Listening with focus will allow you to better understand and learn. 4. Build a reputation and trust with your mentor. This takes time. You need to present and represent yourself in an honorable way to gain any sort of credibility. Getting to a point of being 100 percent comfortable is the goal you want to achieve. This requires consistency. The more interac- tions the better. Setting up regular meetings keeps the energy going forward while earning trust. 5. Be a sponge by asking questions of specific scenarios. Putting deep thought into your questions can yield a high return. The better the quality of questions that you ask, the more you will get out of the interaction. Let your questions be a positive reflection on you. Experienced professionals can notice the difference. You also learn by writing it down. As one of my professors from college once said. “The greatest lie I ever tell myself is that I’ll remember it.” Putting it to paper is a good exercise to do. So be different by learning smart. 6. Pay it forward. When you reflect back to the mentors that helped you along the way, it is now your turn to do the same. You are the one who will have to carry the baton. As an obligation to your mentors, do not retain but give. You will have the honor to continue the legacy of the people who guided you. The purpose of mentorship is to ensure that the knowledge transfer through experiences and work happens. Not only does this benefit the new generation, but it helps the mentor. Why? Because you are giving back in a way that few individuals truly do. To give is better to receive. It also reminds you of the beauty of your profession and how you are making an impact on the upcoming generations. Our work in the AEC industry relies on our ability to collaborate and collectively apply our skills and knowledge to design the world around us. This reality, coupled with changes in the way the AEC industry does business, imply that we should be placing an even greater emphasis on men- torship than ever before. As a means of Elevating the AEC Industry, mentorship is a powerful tool that, like all other skills that allow us to shape the built environment, must be practiced and developed. Ezequiel Tovar
EZEQUIEL TOVAR is an analyst within Zweig Group’s Ownership Transition team. He works directly with AEC firms to develop and implement successful ownership transition efforts with financial modeling, valuations, and comprehensive strategic planning.
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April 2023
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