Finding a Mentor
Young business professionals have so much potential to impact the future, both within the company and beyond. They have degrees and work hard to earn to be professional. But there is a vital resource that they may be missing out on as they prepare for leadership: a mentor, a guide to help them improve and grow as a person and an employee. Many people do no seek mentors because they believe it is immature, difficult to find and confusing but mentors are important.
Having a mentor may seem a bit juvenile or maybe even beneath some of you. However, every single one of the company’s executive officers states that they currently have a mentor who is either a peer or one level higher than they are. The only exception is the CEO, who has no one higher ranking. However, even he admits to having a mentor of his own outside of this organization. This is not a coincidence. These successful executives maintain mentoring relationships because they believe in them. They all attribute many of their career achievements to the effective mentors they’ve had.
The mere task of selecting a mentor may be enough to prevent some people from doing so. Here’s a tip: determine what your goals are, and select a mentor who excels in those areas. This could be as general or specific as you’d like. If you struggle with public speaking, partner with a mentor whose rhetoric you admire. If you want to know how to move up the ladder quickly, find someone else who has done it and ask them to help you plan your next steps.
Many of people don’t choose a mentor because they aren’t not sure what they have to do. The truth is that it’s really up to you and your mentor. Discuss those goals we mentioned with your potential mentor. Share your ideas for helping attain them and seek your mentor’s feedback. Agree on some steps together, and set deadlines to help you accomplish your goals. Also determine how often you’ll get together and what to expect at each meeting. Remember that mentoring is a two-way street, so be prepared to find ways to help your mentor develop him- or herself as well.
Don’t let your hesitations hold you back from one of the most beneficial tools to developing your role as a leader. Talk to some of the successful leaders you know, and find out how mentoring has helped them. That should give you some ideas on areas where you could improve. Identify people in the organization who have insight into those areas. Put together a game plan and take it step by step. The sky’s the limit. Just remember to return the favor once you start working your way up the ladder by never forgetting the little guys.