How can you get feedback on your personal brand from a mentor?

Mentorship caveat: Blindly embracing feedback risks stifling individuality. While mentors offer valuable experience, their vision may clash with your unique path. Beware of molding into a mirror image. Constructive feedback, yes, but filter through your authenticity—preserving your voice amid well-intentioned guidance is key for genuine growth.

Well, a mentor is like your personal Yoda - someone who's been there, done that, and has the Jedi-like wisdom to guide you on your path. These people have an eye for what works and what's a total miss. Their feedback will help you to fine-tune your brand game and make sure you're shining like the superstar you are!

A branding mentor can bring you out of your daily grind of getting all of your to-do list items accomplished. They force you to see a new perspective on what you are bringing to the table. They also have frameworks and proven steps that can lead you to a more unique compelling brand.

A mentor is not just a dispenser of knowledge, but a skilled listener who creates a safe space for you to share your thoughts, challenges, and vulnerabilities. Clear communication and understanding foster a strong and mutually beneficial relationship.

From my experience, a mentor not only imparts wisdom but becomes a compass for your personal brand journey. Their insights are like gold nuggets, helping me navigate challenges and infuse authenticity into my brand. Seeking feedback isn't just about improvement; it's forging a connection that transforms guidance into a shared narrative of growth.

Instead of generic emails, craft tailored messages highlighting your specific goals and why you resonate with their expertise. This demonstrates genuine interest and initiative. Don't just ask for their time. Mention your skills or offer ways you can contribute to their work or network, creating a mutually beneficial relationship.

You find a personal mentor by doing two things: 01: PUT IN WORK - Do the work to build your brand - Make mistakes and keep trying - Ask for feedback from anything that will listen - Pivot from your lessons learned 02: YOU ASK DIRECTLY - Ask for a 15-minute meeting to connect - Don’t use the term mentor; too formal - Connect on what you’ve been doing - Seek feedback on how to be even more effective You will naturally attract mentors when you are putting in the work. But asking directly after you have been working hard is also necessary at times; we are all busy out here in these streets. So is that potential mentor.

In my journey, finding a mentor became a transformative experience. It's not just about seeking guidance; it's about building relationships. Reach out with authenticity, share your story, and express genuine interest. Remember, a mentorship is a two-way street; your growth is their success. Embrace the connection, and you'll discover a wealth of insights that go beyond just refining your personal brand.

Find a mentor for your personal brand by networking within your industry or community. Attend events, join professional groups, and engage on social media platforms to identify potential mentors. Approach individuals whose values and expertise align with your goals. Be clear about your objectives and demonstrate a genuine interest in learning from their experiences. Seek mentorship organically through meaningful interactions, and consider formal mentorship programs or platforms that connect mentees with suitable mentors based on shared interests and objectives.

I've noticed there are 3 types of mentors: Mentor #1: A Winged Mentor is someone that takes you under their wing and shows you the ropes. They teach you everything they know, with the expectation you’ll immediately duplicate/apply what you’ve learned. Mentor #2: A Gated Mentor has some sort of paywall set up or even an application process, where you have to go through steps to gain true access to them. It’s usually in the form of a course, a coaching group, or a mastermind community. Mentor #3: A Silent Mentor can even be someone who’s no longer living. Or someone you study and learn through their actions. You don’t have direct interactions with them, yet you learn from them from a distance.

As a mass communication specialist, business coach, and top leader in a direct selling company, sharing my insights. Acknowledge imperfections and embrace a continuous improvement mindset. Most important to remember Learning is earning – a sentiment crucial in our journey. Each insight shared by an experienced mentor is a shortcut on the path they've traversed. Embrace feedback as a treasure trove of wisdom. Three tips: 1) Listen actively, absorbing the nuances of experience; 2) Approach feedback with humility, recognizing growth opportunities; 3) Implement feedback promptly, transforming insights into actions. This symbiotic exchange accelerates your journey, turning lessons into stepping stones toward success.

View feedback as an opportunity to learn and grow, not a personal attack. Focus on the valuable insights it offers and your potential for improvement. Accept that you're not perfect and mistakes are inevitable. Acknowledge your areas for development and be open to learning from different perspectives.

It's important to take notes while receiving feedback from a mentor. You never want to use you brain as a file cabinet. The feedback can have a huge positive or negative impact on you, as in change can some times can difficult. Taking notes can give the words an objective dynamic being black and white on paper. This comes in handy when it's time to implement so you have a practical relationship with the advice and don't take anything personal.

A simple framework you can suggest your mentor to follow is the FBI method. Feeling - how your behavior makes your mentor feel/think; Behavior - the specific behavior that makes your mentor feel/think that way; Impact - the greatest impact of your behavior.

Nobody likes their "brain picked", but everyone loves to be complimented and challenged. The best way to ask for feedback is to first refer to an accomplishment of your mentor. Show you've paid attention to their triumph and recognize them. Next share that you aim to do the same or you've failed to do the same of your own. Ask them what they would do in your shoes of in your specific scenario.

Be clear about what you want feedback on, whether it's your overall personal brand, specific content pieces, or your online presence. Having a focused target helps your mentor provide more relevant and actionable insights. Prepare specific questions about your areas of concern or curiosity. This prompts deeper discussion and clarifies your understanding of the feedback.

Request feedback on your personal branding from a mentor by scheduling a dedicated meeting. Begin by expressing gratitude for their guidance. Specifically, inquire about their perceptions of your current brand and its alignment with your professional goals. Encourage candid insights and suggestions for improvement. Be open to constructive criticism and actively listen. Conclude by outlining your commitment to refining your personal brand and expressing appreciation for their mentorship in this critical aspect of professional development.

It’s always a honour to be asked for feedback if it’s requested because others value your opinion, and you know there will be a benefit to the feedback provider. Feedback needn’t take too much time to complete and needn’t be face to face. In fact written feedback is often most powerful. It allows the requester to gather in feedback from a range of sources and analyse the common themes. That’s where you get a picture of your true magic that you bring to situations. That’s your current personal brand.

Remember that your mentor isn't you. So although their feedback is valid and valuable, it doesn't instantly mean you have to act on every point they've made, because it may not entirely match your point of view. I remember my own mentor pushing me to spend time on a contingency plan for something that, although useful as a precaution, was going to take my time away from doing the thing in the first place. So I weighed up his advice, added in my perspective and ended up ignoring what he'd suggested. It didn't make his feedback any less useful, but I didn't have to take it as gospel for how I should act.

Approaching feedback as a gift rather than criticism has been key in my journey. It's an opportunity for growth, a chance to refine the essence of your personal brand. Embrace vulnerability, ask for specific insights, and remember, it's a collaborative effort between you and your mentor. The more genuine and open you are to constructive feedback, the more profound your personal brand transformation can be.

Speed of Implementation! Don't thank the mentor with your words after they've given you the advice. Thank them with your actions. Document your progress and keep your mentor in the loop on certain milestones.

Over the years, I've had moments of being uncomfortable with not feeling confident or having conviction in something I know, I know, and learnt that sometimes feedback can also be reassurance. Having someone experienced in looking at things from a multi-perspective angle can make all the difference. The word feedback also has a negative connotation when really it should be called feedforward.

Finding the right mentor takes time and effort. Don't get discouraged if your initial outreach doesn't yield immediate results. Keep putting yourself out there and building connections.