Mentors can help you escalate your career, boost your self-development, and improve your relationships.
From an early age, I sought out mentors in different areas of life.
Here are strategies to help you find a mentor:
Decide what area you want help with
Determine what aspect of your life you want help – e.g. your career, health, or relationships. When you understand the area you want to focus on you can begin searching for the right mentor.
Investigate top performers in your industry
If you want to find a career mentor, find out who are the experts in the field of expertise you want to develop and make an appointment with them to interview them, and understand their career success.
Find out where your role models hang out
Check out networks, industry events, and conferences to seek potential mentors.
Spend time watching the people in the board room or ballroom and take note of anyone who stands out and has the ‘presence’ you are looking to learn from.
Investigate official company mentoring programs
Many organizations have internal mentoring programs you can become a part of. If you work for yourself, you can investigate local Government opportunities too.
Select your mentor
When you find the person you believe would be suitable, spend time watching them in action. Ask to attend a presentation with them, or shadow them so you can spend a “day in the life of” your potential and watch what they do.
Ask others opinion of your selected mentor
When you have chosen someone, ask around to find out about their achievements, beliefs, values, and way of operating. This will give you insight before you approach them about mentoring you.
Approach your selected mentor
Phone or make an appointment to see them. Advise why you want to meet and schedule time. This is an important step in the process so you can show you respect their time and you are committed to doing the right thing.
Share an agenda
When you meet share the outline of what you would like to discuss. Your agenda could include why you want them to mentor you, how long it is for, and what you hope to gain during that time. If they agree to mentor you, you can then work out how you can also support them.
Establish an agreement
If you decide to proceed, set up an agreement with guidelines for timeframe, contact boundaries, full honesty, etc. If you would like to know more about this check out ‘How to be a great Mentee’.
Fulfill your mentee commitments
Always turn up to meetings prepared, complete any assignments or tasks given to you, and always look for opportunities to support your mentor.
When you find a good mentor it can change your life.
If you want to know more about Neen’s mentoring program, click here
