Mentorship, not management: how the next-gen workforce wants to be led

Mentorship begins where management reaches its limit.

- SAURABH SHARMA

Most team leads focus on getting things done, meeting deadlines, and keeping projects on track. That makes sense, but it does not always leave room for conversations about where their team member wants to go in their career. Assigning tasks and giving feedback is not the same as helping someone grow. Often, their strengths or future goals do not come up at all, even in their appraisal sessions.

That is where mentorship becomes essential.

Today's professionals are not asking to be managed; they are looking for direction and clarity. They prefer conversations that rise above routine work, built on experience instead of hierarchy.

This need has grown with the way work itself has changed. Roles are dynamic and need continuous adaptations. AI is reshaping the work ecosystem. Remote setups have reduced informal learning. The demand for upskilling is rising, but clear, structured guidance has not caught up.

Mentors help make sense of all this. They do not replace managers, but they offer a 360-degree perspective, deep insights, and a long-term view of growth.

For anyone building a career in IT, mentorship turns your effort into concrete outcomes.

MENTORSHIP TAKES MANY FORMS, ALL OF THEM MATTER

In technology, mentorship looks different depending on what is needed:

• Technical Mentorship helps sharpen real-world skills through code reviews, tool choices and architecture advice.