Choosing a mentor who is right for you
Besides being able to meet your developmental needs, the best mentors are people who are excited about learning and who are continuing their own development. Also, good mentors will achieve a sense of personal satisfaction from seeing others succeed and have a desire to be active participants in others' learning and growth. You'll want to seek out someone who possesses such traits and who also sets high standards for his or her work and can set an example for you. If no potential mentors readily come to mind, ask your colleagues or managers if they know of anyone they think would make a good mentor for you. Your organization may have a mentoring program that can pair you with a mentor based on your goals and the mentor's knowledge and skills. You can also find potential mentors outside your organization by attending meetings and events hosted by your professional association.