How do you find a mentor in your field without being awkward?

This comes down to knowing why you want a mentor. You have to know why first. Setting achievable goals is step 1, though a mentor can help you clarify your goals. So if you’re unable to set out concrete goals, don’t beat yourself up.

Purpose is the North Star of our mentorship quest, illuminating the path towards aligning aspirations with actions. It's not merely about seeking guidance; it's about finding resonance between a mentor's wisdom and our purpose. So, by allowing to explore 'Who am I' and 'What I am here for,' we lay the groundwork for a mentorship that's not just about skill enhancement, but a voyage of self-discovery and growth, and to a direction that allows fulfilment.

Even if you are unsure about your specific goals, it is okay. Mentor can also help you to clear your vision, can give you a torch to see ahead, can set your compass to the right direction. Key thing is to be aware of your current state and reaching out to mentors. Remember that mentors will also be happy helping you out, so don't worry about any guilt or debt, just reach out - you won't lose anything in asking. Go with your pings without any expectation, without judging yourself based on the response by the potential mentor (to your initial ping/request). Just get up, go to the edge of your comfort zone, and dive with a 'hi' and a 'smile' :)

??One thing I've found useful is just roughly jotting down why you need a mentor for a start. Noting the areas where you need mentoring in is vital in this step. Ask yourself, " What do I need a mentor for?", " Do I need guidance in my career?, How will I develop my personal brand? " ??These questions will help you break down your mentorship goals into small achievable micro-goals. Once you've done this part, you'll effectively be able to identify a mentor who can grow you in all your areas of need.

Finding a mentor can be like #dating! It goes two ways- and sometimes isn’t a match. That’s ok. And it’s ok to have more than one mentor. I believe mentors that help in the areas of your greatest weaknesses are good candidates. Mentors may be for a few months or go for years, just depends… And always remember people’s time is valuable- make good use.

Honestly, some of my mentor relationships happened by accident. I set out to network and learn from someone, then it evolved. Don’t overthink this, surround yourself with good people and be willing to grow.

It is important to get clear on the criteria that you'll use to determine who the right mentor is for you. You can consider: (1) years of experience, (2) role type, (3) past or current companies, (4) leadership style and more to ensure you are looking for someone that will effectively support you as a mentor.

Starting to look for a specific person as our reference, automatically restrict our options and it's inefficient as: - it's difficult to judge at first; - there is no such thing a the perfect mentor; - seeing thing from many perspectives helps. I found effective opening to ideas & comments coming from everywhere & everyone, then applying the method: (1) listen, (2) think (3) act accordingly (4) check results (5) evaluate & correct Following this simple rule we can then select sets of people (mentors) that can really boost our productivity and help us to reduce our mistakes.

Mentors are all around you, but it isn't always easy to connect with a stranger and or identify who would be a great match for you. I've relied on platforms like LinkedIn for a long time to connect, and those connections inspired me to create greater access for people to find professional mentors. This year, I'm launching realmentors.net to make finding and matching with mentor more accessible for all professionals. Take a peek.

If you're not sure about who you would like to mentor you, reach out on LinkedIn and Twitter explaining what you're looking for, and why. You may be surprised by who will respond, and it can really broaden your horizons.

Awkward is reaching out to someone you don’t know and asking, “Hey, will you be my mentor?” Show them you’re going to make it worthwhile and it’s a good use of their time. A well thought out message with information showing you’ve done you’re homework and you’re willing to learn/put in the work.

Absolutely! When reaching out to potential mentors, it's essential to make a meaningful connection rather than sending a generic message. By showing that you have done your homework and genuinely respect their work, you can start the conversation on the right foot. Here are some contributions to consider: Personalize your message: Mention specific projects, articles, or achievements of the mentor that have inspired you or caught your attention. This demonstrates that you are familiar with their work and have taken the time to learn about their accomplishments.

Time is so valuable to everyone - do not just demand someone mentors you. You can join purpose built networking and mentoring sites for this, but do not reach out to someone you don't know without an existing relationship or they've said they would like to mentor somebody. Im

Another thing to consider when reaching out and asking for mentoring are clear and concise expectations. Value can run in both directions, but it helps if it is measurable: help them understand how you (and they) what measures you will be using to know that this is helping you succeed or grow. Likewise, if you are offering to help them in some way, try to express it in a sense that makes that value clearly expressed. This doesn't necessarily mean that mentoring always needs to be formally transactional and numeric - just clearly and purposefully thought about.

Don't be afraid to reach out, but reach out without expectations. Reach out with the goal of being able to get to know someone, the chance to hear their story. Perhaps reach out by expressing your interest or opinion about something they have written or posted before and use that as a way of piquing their interest.

Set your sights high, who had trodden this path or a similar path before? What gaps do you have that you feel you need a mentor for? Is it a lack of confidence and you need validation? Respect the mentors time, always have an agenda, ask to trial something for 3-6 months and warm them up first. Initial conversation, perhaps coffee or lunch, and maybe another and then when you feel the time is appropriate ask them. The same mentor doesn’t have to be for life and it doesn’t need exclusivity so pin point your exisiting challenge, identify who you feel would be the best person to help overcome that challenge and ask. Many people will happily give you time over coffee and lunch without needing to be a mentor.

A mentee owns the relationship and determines how well it goes. Be punctual, be motivated, and show you’re listening to their advice.

To follow up and ask effectively: Be Timely: Follow up within a week or two if you haven't heard back. Reiterate Your Request: Briefly restate your initial request and the value you see in their mentorship. Acknowledge Their Time: Show understanding of their busy schedule and express continued interest. Offer Flexibility: Suggest alternative times or formats for connecting, making it easier for them to say yes. Be Polite and Professional: Maintain a courteous tone and thank them again for their consideration. Include Contact Info: Ensure your contact details are clear for an easy reply. This approach keeps the conversation professional and respectful.

I've found that the follow-up can be one of the most rewarding aspects of being mentored - so it's absolutely not a thing to skip, miss, or downplay. I typically follow up a mentoring conversation (formal or informal) with 3 things: - A specific and genuine thank you - A super brief summary of lessons I've learned, actions I'll take, measures I'll use to judge my success - A follow up date or time - even if it's just a check in or plan to schedule more I've done this based on some very informal "not official mentor" conversations with people that I just found to have insights - you'd be amazed at what this can do for your network, and future growth. In some cases this became the basis for more formal mentor-ship

When beginning your journey of seeking mentorship, it can be beneficial to establish a conducive environment. For some, this may involve being in an outdoor setting where you can freely express yourself. Sometimes, breaking away from your usual routine can make the interaction feel more natural. Feeling comfortable and being able to express your unique self are essential. Additionally, it's important to be clear about your objectives early on and to establish the topics you feel comfortable discussing. Seeking mentorship is a wonderful opportunity to gain clarity, understanding, and accountability.

To nurture the mentorship relationship, maintain regular communication, schedule check-ins, seek advice actively, express gratitude, implement feedback, and offer assistance when possible.

A successful mentoring relationship is one where there is mutual respect and reciprocal learning. Nurturing the relationship creates the safety and trust folks need to be vulnerable and open to the growth and learning that is possible in a mentoring relationship.

Finding a great mentor is not that hard I believe but, you have to be respectful of others. Build healthy relationships with them and your goals should match at a point. When your goals align with the person you see your mentor in, things get easier.

Show gratitude, communicate regularly, actively seek feedback, implement advice, share progress, and demonstrate commitment. Mutual respect and open communication foster a nurturing mentorship relationship, leading to meaningful growth and development.

Healthy Relationship between Mentor and Mentee is more important to demonstrate better results by sharing each other's views and innovating thoughts. Further, dignity and decorum should be uphold in all acts with mentor and receive the inputs with right earnest to implement them with right guidance always.

Having more than one mentor in your field can help you learn and grow quickly. You can choose to have a formal or informal mentor depending on what works best for you. Joining a program, community, or group in your field can connect you with people who are more experienced. This way, you get help and advice from different people so you can reach your goals faster. With many mentors, you will be able to understand even hard topics quickly and easily!

Rumi tells me that what I seek is seeking me. And he is right. I like to do multiple things. Poetry, psychological research, creative and copywriting are some of them. After having mentors for each of them, I can bid on this. My mentors have made me the person I am, and the person I’m becoming. I found mentors I saw my future self in. Mentors who saw a mini-themselves in me. Mentors who really, genuinely wanted me to succeed. Mentors whom I could trust. The first mentor I got was my psychology teacher at school. Then, I found some at poetry workshops. Then, through a mentorship program. Then, at a copywriting traineeship. And one is my professor at college. So can you. So should you. I hope you find who is seeking you :)

I always believe in hearing multiple opinions and that means having multiple mentors. Some of the best situations have been when we were from different backgrounds and mentored each other.

As mentioned above, some people approach mentoring so strategically as to envision a board of mentors: Strategically selecting different people to grow you in different ways based on different skills. From personal experience, I've found this to be a very useful strategy.

Mentors come with specific virtues and can unlock parts of the needs you are after for career development but there is no need to restrict yourself as long as the mentor - mentee relationship are valuable and not contradictive. Choose mentors who can help you elevate different areas of your growth plan and share a diverse set of experiences.

Do not, I repeat, do not, ask someone to be your mentor. That's asking them to take on another obligation, and who has time for that? Instead, ask to tap into their expertise. Explain that you are working on a project, you are stuck on this one issue, and would they have a few minutes to talk it through with you to see what you might be overlooking. People like to work with those whom they know, like, and trust. Show them you did your homework, made a valiant effort, and are looking to reach the next rung.

I would go as far as suggesting to seek a mentor who isn’t necessarily in your field, but can add value in different and meaningful ways. I have been honoured to be mentored by individuals from the business, healthcare and marketing fields, all of which aren’t directly within my area of speciality, but they were experts, full of knowledge and wisdom. Think of what the areas of growth you want to work on, and seek mentors who can add value there.

Never believe that you are too young or too old to be a mentor or mentee. We all have our own unique experiences and expertise that we can all learn from; mentoring relationships are powerful and important opportunities for mutual learning. I continue to rely on mentors to support me as my work continues to evolve.

Don't give up: If your first attempt at finding a mentor doesn't work out, don't give up. Keep reaching out to people and building relationships. It may take time to find the right mentor, but the effort will be worth it in the end.

I think we naturally gravitate to seeking mentors, but at what point do you become a mentor and begin to seek mentees? Only you can answer that, but it's important to keep the cycle of growth throughout teams and organizations. In fact, I find that you never stop being a mentee, even when you start becoming a mentor.