The value of mentorship within the project controls industry
At any stage in your career, learning and developing your skills is essential - and in a complex field such as project controls, mentoring from industry friends and your team is an essential part of growth. Equally, the commercial benefits for organisations and individual projects can be huge. But all too often, mentoring is overlooked due to conflict management, time management, resistance to change and growth. “I don’t have enough time” is something that is often said, without fully understanding the benefits that mentoring can offer.
Whether you’re at director level, a junior consultant, or transitioning from another field such as the military, mentoring is a vital tool that presents the opportunity for knowledge transfer, improved performance, career development and better-rounded project teams.
In this blog, Associate Director, Kate Young (who also comes from a non-project controls background) delves into the value of mentorship within the project controls industry and the benefits it can offer.
BLUEPRINT’S APPROACH TO MENTORING
“Tend to the people and they will tend to business” - John C Maxwell - Author
At Blueprint, we’re fortunate to have access to a whole host of talent across our team, so to maximise knowledge and expertise, we take an inward focus approach when it comes to mentoring. The aim is to provide the team with mentorship not only from top to bottom but also upwards and across - 360 mentorship. The mentorship process at Blueprint is free-flowing, creating an open atmosphere that allows for both growth and questioning, from graduates and the senior team alike.
Our approach is that mentoring should be a personal experience that is bespoke for each individual. There is no one set framework but purely an aim to offer professionals new to project controls, such as ex-forces and young individuals, space and time to develop their skill set and mature their own unique transferable skills. Doing this allows them to not only better understand their expertise, specialisms and value but also to address gaps in their knowledge to deliver successful projects.
The key ingredient is to encourage individuals to learn without fear of expectations or of getting it wrong, and to create a space where all team members feel empowered to get involved in the business plan. Ultimately to achieve the goal of developing the organisation from the inside out.
THE VALUE OF MENTORSHIP WITHIN THE PROJECT CONTROLS WORLD
There are many benefits to mentoring and different ways you can implement it across your organisation, but in its simplest form, mentorship is the patronage, influence, guidance, or direction given by a mentor, to help with personal and professional growth.
Cross-sector skills exchange for career development:
A great example of cross-sector skills exchange in the project world is onboarding ex-service personnel. They may not consider their skills as a fit for project controls, but they have many transferable skills that lend themselves to a career as project controllers. They have the ability to effectively communicate, manage time, problem solve, conflict manage and be resourceful. They understand the fluidity of situations and adapt. These skill sets lend themselves to project controls, but without an effective mentor, they may not be aware of these transferable skills. Equally, from their time in the forces, they will have many skills which they can share with existing project controllers. Mentoring is about exploring strengths and offering guidance on career paths and skill development, which can massively support an individual's career progression.
Knowledge transfer:
Project controls is a unique and specialised field and so naturally it requires specific skills, knowledge and understanding of how the industry operates. The transfer of knowledge and wisdom from experienced professionals to those just beginning their careers, such as ex-military and young professionals, is invaluable. This will create an environment where individuals feel empowered to ask questions, learn and make a difference in the future of project controls.
With that being said, mentoring should not just be from the top-down. Young professionals who are new to the industry offer valuable insights into best practices and are often able to think outside the box, suggesting new, innovative ideas and processes that those with experience might not have thought about before. Granting these junior members of the team space to voice these questions and provide insights will benefit both your organisation and project in the long run.
Improved Performance & Confidence:
Aside from the above, mentoring can be incredibly beneficial when it comes to an individual's performance and confidence, developing leadership skills, being exposed to different thoughts, building on personal networks and personal development opportunities - for mentees and mentors alike. For example, if the individual is currently making a big career change or starting a new role in the team, consistent and purposeful mentoring can make this a smoother transition. Equally, becoming a mentor allows team members to recognise and validate their own potential, skillset and value.
CONCLUSION
The benefits of mentorship in the field of project controls goes beyond career development. Not only can mentees learn from the knowledge and experience of their mentors to progress, but being a mentor can have significant commercial benefits - helping to build confidence, expand networks, gain a deeper understanding of the industry and inspire those who doubt they have what it takes to pursue a career in project controls. All of the above helps create stronger, more integrated teams and helps to ensure project success.
The future of the project control industry is on the shoulders of those who are beginning their careers in this field. A mentor's job is to help get them ready to handle the challenges they are bound to face.
So, if a career in project controls intrigues you and you’re looking to take that next step, then please get in touch to discover how we can help you.