Your Path to Finding a Mentor

A good mentor relationship enables both the mentor and the mentee to develop and grow new talents and increase self-awareness.

The mentee can receive objective advice that keeps him/her from falling into common pitfalls and become more in tuned with what is needed for his/her development. The mentor can hone leadership skills and benefit from seeing another person positively grow and change.

Mentors can be helpful at any level of your career—from starting out to rising up through the ranks. Lillian Eby, Professor of Applied Psychology at the University of Georgia, who has studied the effects of mentoring, sites its virtues:

“Obtaining a mentor is an important career development experience for individuals. Research indicates that mentored individuals perform better on the job, advance more rapidly within the organization (i.e. get promoted more quickly and earn higher salaries) report more job and career satisfaction.”

But even though just about everyone can benefit from a mentor, not everyone is ready for the relationship. The mentee needs to be open to new ways of thinking, perspectives from someone who may not agree with him/her and be willing to change.

The mentor needs to create a coach relationship by asking questions, seeking understanding and then, offering advice. Potential benefits are lost if the mentor acts in a dictator type manner calling all the shots. The relationship should evolve naturally and incrementally out of mutual respect for the other’s capabilities.

In Jamie Walters article, “Seven Tips for Finding a Great Mentor”, she outlines the way to begin your mentor search.

Know Yourself. Consciously think about where you are in your career and where you would like to be. Think about your personality type, strengths and challenges. If you don’t know yourself, how can another person support you and help you grow?
Look at your connections through a new lens. If your work connections don’t lead you to a mentor, it’s time to get out there and attend meetings, join professional groups, attend charity events, etc.
Be Proactive. Develop a deliberate course of action to find a mentor. In some cases mentoring relationships happen naturally, other times you have to work to make them happen by finding the right person and making your intentions known.
Keep an Open Mind Regarding Who This Person Might Be. A mentor is someone who will help you to grow in areas most important to your future. This person might not necessarily be someone of high rank, your immediate boss, or even someone in the same business as you are. Look for someone who exemplifies the traits and skills that you want to adopt or you know will be very honest with you.
Identify Where You May Find a Suitable Mentor. Good sources of mentors include your management team, industry associations, professors, retirees and local business owners.
Know What You Want to Achieve from the Relationship. A clear understanding of your purpose and desired result will ensure that you find a suitable mentor. This clarity also eliminates any further confusion regarding roles and expectations.
Think About People Who Have Been Your Mentors in the Past. Whether deliberately or not, each of us has had mentors in our lives. What traits did they have that truly helped you? Use these traits as indicators for finding a new mentor.

The rewards and benefits of being in a mentoring relationship are far reaching. Your thinking maybe enhanced by better understanding your strengths and challenges as seen through the eyes of someone else in the organization. Your potential and contribution may be heightened by better decision-making.

But remember, the biggest thanks and contribution you can give your mentor is by becoming a mentor to others and passing on the skills modeled to you.