We caught up with Nic to hear more about the journey that led her to a successful career at Morson Projects and an additional role as Mentor.
Hi Nic! Why did you choose to become a mentor?
I chose to become a mentor because I like to make a difference. I have 30 years of varied industry experience and project management where I am able to share my experiences and knowledge.
I am a people person and love to help wherever I can. It is rewarding to watch people develop their own skills over time and know that I am (hopefully) having a positive impact in their life.
Please can you tell us a bit about your mentoring experiences so far…
I currently mentor four Morson Projects graduates, each from different areas of our team. Throughout my career, I have gained lots of experience as a mentor while also having the opportunity to be mentored myself. This has given me both the mentee and mentors perspective, giving me insights into both guiding others and learning from professionals.
I am part of Salford University’s Go Beyond Mentoring Programme, where I mentor female students in their third and fourth years in engineering within the School of Science, Engineering and Environment (SSEE).
In addition, I also mentor a young care leaver in the community who has very little support available to her. In this role, I provide support and help in all kinds of areas for example; cooking, managing household bills, helping with appointments, decorating, and just spending time together, maybe a walk or a carvery!
What motivates you in your work?
I love my job and that motivates me. I work as part of a great and supportive team. I feel the work that I do has a positive impact on those around us. I am always around to help where needed and If I can’t help, I find a way to help. My job keeps me on my toes! It is fast paced and requires a lot of focus, organisation and planning.
What do you enjoy most about being a mentor?
For me I enjoy building the new relationships with the mentee’s and getting to know them as individuals. It is rewarding to see their growth and development, especially the mentees that are going through the PDR process and seeing it all come together. I like to share my experiences and knowledge and give guidance and advice where I can.
What kind of growth or changes have you seen in your past mentees?
It is always nice to see the personal growth of individuals. Whether that is in confidence, knowledge, experience etc. I have seen people develop their communication and decision-making skills.
I have seen mentee’s set themselves SMART targets and goals and achieve them, or not as the case has been sometimes. It is always nice to see mentee’s take on new roles, further develop themselves and their careers.
What challenges do you often face in mentoring, and how do you suggest dealing with them?
I can’t say I have faced many challenges in mentoring. There was one occasion where the mentee was not engaged and felt this because I was not directly in her industry and wouldn’t be able to mentor her, which was frustrating and certainly not the case. She dropped out of the mentoring program; it was out of my control. After discussing the situation with both her and the university contact, I accepted it as a learning experience – understanding that not every mentoring relationship will be the right fit.
What advice would you give someone considering becoming a mentor?
If you have the time to support somebody in their career and life and you feel you can make a difference I would say, go for it. If you are apprehensive, there is training available and at Morson Projects we have a great support team. I know who to contact if I need help, support or advice and everybody is approachable, friendly and supportive.
Commitment and dedication are key to being a successful mentor.
We also have networking events which are always really good, and these provide refresher sessions as well as opportunities to catch up with other mentors and mentees, share feedback and allow us to be able to ask questions and seek advice.
I recently received a Highly Commended nomination for Mentor of the Year, which I am extremely proud of.
What do you think makes a good mentor? How have you developed these traits over time?
I believe that a great mentor should be a good listener, knowledgeable, and calm, offering their full focus to the mentee. Body language plays a crucial role, as does the environment in which mentoring takes place – a quiet space with no interruptions. It’s important to be a positive role model, approachable, and realistic. Patience and empathy are also key qualities for a mentor.
However, these qualities don’t always come naturally, they take time to develop. I’ve had to adapt in various situations, and I find that regular reflection is vital to my growth and progress as a mentor.
How do you typically structure your mentoring relationships?
I start by holding a welcome session, which allows both myself and the mentee to introduce ourselves and begin to get to know each other. This initial meeting is key for setting rules and boundaries.
As we move forward, setting SMART goals, identifying expectations, reviewing progress and maintaining boundaries which are all part of the process. I aim to keep the sessions friendly, relaxed, open, and honest.
We currently use the Honey & Mumford learning style questionnaire to better understand each mentee’s learning preferences, which helps me tailor my communication style to meet their needs effectively.
What books, resources, or people have influenced your career the most?
I have fond memories of one of my first line managers, Lois, who played a crucial role in my early learning and development.
My time at Citigroup helped my development with a very good training program and support system.
Over the years, I’ve participated in lots of training courses, workshops, and networking events, all of which have contributed to my career progression and have helped me reach where I am today.
Nic is one of our 80 in-house many mentors, follow the link to hear more from our mentoring team>