Early in my career, I had four bosses in the span of less than four years. It’s not as bad as it sounds; I worked in retail, where churn was high. All of the departures were due to internal promotions, so that was good. I look back on that time fondly because each woman I reported to had a different work style and personality. Not only were these women my work team leaders, they also were my mentors—and I was a sponge, soaking up their advice and insider tips.

If you’ve ever had the good fortune of being properly mentored, you know what a blessing it is. Think about the folks you’ve learned from. What was the impact of them giving of their time and wisdom? If you’ve been in the workforce several years, chances are you’ve something to give back to an eager up-and-comer who would love to (metaphorically) sit at your feet and learn from you.

The pandemic created a mentoring gap

Like many elements of our work life, the pandemic has affected workplace mentoring in profound ways. Office-based workers are still sorting out the mechanics of time spent in actual offices with their colleagues, and this has implications for both formal and informal mentoring practices.

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