Memorandum Essay Samples

RE: Professional Growth Through Mentoring

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I have always sought professional advice in all possible forms. Professional development programs is one staple course I resort to, of course. However, mentoring has proven an invaluable resource which has contributed immensely towards my professional growth. More specifically, my line manager's, John Howard's, mentoring has helped me leapfrog my career.

Background

As an online media professional, I come across diverse learning platforms. By definition, digital publishing is an area of permanent growth and peer-to-peer learning. Through continuous communication with internal and external stakeholders, system feedback and on-spot peer reviews, I gain experiences and pick up what has come to be referred to as "professional points" in our workplace. Coined by John Howard, as I have come to know later, I was fascinated by how appraisal is no longer conducted by regular quarter feedback forms but by incorporating one main digital publishing concept, i.e. user metrics, into professional web publishing appraisal processes. As a new joiner at first, I was much down organizational ladder from John. Surprisingly, however, a week into my job, I came to fully appreciate John's collaboration model.

Meetings

John is an able communicator. Not only does he deliver his messages to subordinates clearly but he manages to infuse his valuable experiences into daily workflow by assuming a peer position. Through weekly and monthly meetings – on- and offline – John facilitates discussions on projects, existing and potential, by not relying on formal discussions facilitated by software platforms solely but by going extra miles and following up, walking subordinates through miscommunicated, if any, workflow procedures.
I remember a meeting while John was introducing a new workflow platform I was so overwhelmed by assignments I had to complete prior to orientation meeting. That day, I excused early and resumed unfinished work. Assuming I would have to walk myself through a complicated workflow platform after a long working day. To my delight, however, I found a walkthrough video posed on my dashboard – by John. That instant of professional hand was never erased from my learning memories. True, John's act was a simple one. However, his acute observation as well as his mindfulness – an increasingly important quality in innovative, collaboration-based workplaces – managed to secure a subordinate's permanent allegiance and constant support for a superordinate, particularly when workplace conflict should be at a minimum during bottlenecks and sequential deadlines.

Mentoring

Indeed, John's dynamism was not missed by management. Aside from his official role as Digital Media Manager, John was designated Mentor-in-Chief by management. In his new role, John was to mentor new, senior comers on workflow, in-house and abroad. His new role did not, however, distract him from his old mentees. Being one of his regular mentees, John was never short of offering advice. In fact, his skill for maintaining uninterrupted relationships with all has not only helped me be inspired by John's leadership but also to gain insights into my own chosen profession.

Fresh Professional Insights

Having focused almost exclusively on "digital", I seemed to miss human communication in process. Fully consumed in dashboards, workflows, widgets and new gimmicks, John came as a professional savior. Not only have his mentoring hints offered me fresh insights into my career but he has as well managed to pass on to me – as well to others – one great skill in any global workplace, skill transfer.

New Frontiers

Thus, from a mere recipient of a non-core skill to a skill portfolio manager, John leapfrogged my career by pushing boundaries of what could possibly be my designated area of expertise. From an online media professional proficient in digital publishing, I came to develop my career portfolio beyond one strictly defined career path. Training has also come to mean a completely different practice. Hence, rather than seeking professional development in typical development programs, ad hoc workshops, or even mentoring, I came to understand development in terms of sharing and collaboration within very different contexts. Currently, I put on many professional hats. Aside from my typical online media professional one, I put on Trainer, Mentor, Facilitator, Volunteer, and Assignee hats. Indeed, John's mark has been a remarkable one.

Takeaways

John Howard's mentorship is an experience I greatly cherish. For not only has John walked me through as would a typical manager walk a subordinate through uncharted waters but he has opened wide windows into my career path and professional development. Thanks to John, I have come to understand professional development differently, acquire new learning and work habits and expand on existing skills such as to define new professional boundaries. Granted access to limitless learning opportunities, I now understand how great influence persons could have on others. Contrary to automation-oriented learning, I have come to appreciate as well how human communication remains still an invaluable asset in workplace dynamics. Through human communication and human communication alone is institutional learning initiated, enacted, practiced and spread.