I recently wrote an article about mentoring technical writers for Hackmamba. Although I focused on the technical writing field, I believe the benefits of mentoring described in that article apply to almost any profession.
What I didn’t discuss, are the challenges that mentoring can bring. Mentoring others can be rewarding, but let’s be honest and talk about what potential challenges you might encounter.
In this article, I will present potential challenges and propose ways to overcome them. I will also talk about the qualities of a good mentor.
Why should you mentor others?
I invite you to read the aforementioned article to have a comprehensive answer to this question. But the TL;DR is provided below.
Mentoring junior technical writers offers benefits beyond personal fulfillment:
Reinforces and deepens your own knowledge.
Expands your professional network.
Enhances career advancement prospects.
Improves the likelihood of raises and promotions.
Skills developed through mentoring include:
Enhanced communication and interpersonal abilities
-Leadership and coaching capabilities
Strengthened subject matter expertise
Improved problem-solving skills
Better time management and organizational skills
Also, mentoring creates lasting connections that can lead to future collaborations and opportunities.
What are the qualities needed to become an effective mentor?
The main challenge of mentoring is fostering an environment that is both challenging and encouraging, one that motivates you and your mentee. This is by no means an easy task. Effective mentoring requires:
Patience
Active listening
Empathy
To develop these qualities, remember when you were in your mentee’s shoes and ask yourself these questions:
What helped you push through?
Who inspired you the most and why?
Always keep in mind how it feels to be a beginner and suck at things. Provide constructive feedback that motivates your mentee to keep pushing themselves. Always pointing out someone’s flaws drains their energy. Offer resources that support your mentee’s development and create opportunities for collaborative learning. The more you find ways to connect with your mentee, the more you forge a relationship that transcends the mentor-mentee dynamic.
Challenges and how to overcome them
As with any other rewarding experience, mentoring comes with its fair share of challenges. Now I want to explore what challenges you might face as a technical writer mentor and discuss potential strategies you might want to use to overcome them.
The time crunch challenge
As a technical writer, you are already packed with meetings, deadlines, and writing projects, and the idea of finding time in your busy schedule to allocate to your mentee might overwhelm you.
The solution? Commit to a specific time and frequency for mentoring. After you and your mentee agree on the details, guard this time box fiercely. Or, invite your mentee to shadow you while working on tasks related to your mentee’s task. They’ll learn, and you will get another pair of eyes on your work. It’s a win-win!
The knowledge gap challenge
Let’s assume your expertise is in Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA), but your mentee struggles with Markdown.
How do you bridge this gap? Embrace the role of co-learner. Say, “I don’t know Markdown, but let’s learn together”. This approach keeps you adaptable and fosters a collaborative learning environment that can increase accountability for you and your mentee.
The communication challenge
Everyone has their own way of learning. Perhaps you learn better when you take notes, but your mentee is more visual. Or perhaps there’s a language barrier.
Solution? Use tools like Miro for visual brainstorming and diagramming. Try pair writing sessions with collaborative tools like Google Docs. To overcome language barriers, provide written summaries using simple language.
The imposter syndrome challenge
You and your mentee might grapple with imposter syndrome. You might doubt your mentoring skills, and your mentee might think they’re not progressing fast enough.
How do you overcome this problem? Keep track of the lessons you have learned together and your achievements, and review them every now and then. Share your struggles with your mentee and how you overcame them: “When I first worked on API docs, I felt completely lost. Here’s how I pushed through…”. Sharing your stories, particularly when they resonate with your mentee, can strengthen your bond.
Conclusion
Mentoring in technical writing is a two-way street that benefits both the mentor and the mentee. As you guide others on their journey, you’ll find yourself growing professionally and personally. The skills you develop and refine through mentoring—from communication to leadership—will serve you well throughout your career. Moreover, the connections you forge and the reputation you build as a mentor can open doors to new opportunities. So, whether you’re a seasoned technical writer or just a few steps ahead of others, consider taking on the mentor role. It’s an investment in your own growth, your mentee’s future, and the broader technical writing community. Remember, by lifting others, you ultimately lift yourself.
