You want to be a successful creative problem solver. How can you find the right mentor to help you?

1 Identify your needs

Before you start looking for a mentor, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to learn, what you want to achieve, and what kind of help you need. Think about your strengths and weaknesses, your interests and passions, and your career aspirations. What are the specific skills, knowledge, or attitudes that you want to improve or acquire? What are the challenges or opportunities that you want to explore or pursue? What are the goals or outcomes that you want to reach or measure? Write down your answers and use them as a guide for finding a potential mentor.

2 Search for a mentor

Once you have identified your needs, you can start searching for a mentor who can meet them. There are many ways to find a mentor, such as asking your network, joining online platforms, attending events, or reaching out to experts. However, not every mentor is suitable for you. You need to look for someone who has relevant experience, skills, and knowledge in creative problem solving, who shares your values and vision, and who is willing and able to mentor you. You can use online tools, such as LinkedIn or Mentimeter, to research and compare potential mentors, or you can ask for referrals or recommendations from people you trust.

3 Approach a mentor

After you have narrowed down your list of potential mentors, you need to approach them and ask them if they are interested in mentoring you. This can be a daunting task, but you can make it easier by following some tips. First, be respectful and polite, and introduce yourself and your background. Second, be specific and concise, and explain why you want them to be your mentor, what you want to learn from them, and what you can offer them in return. Third, be flexible and open-minded, and suggest some possible ways and times to communicate and collaborate with them. Finally, be grateful and appreciative, and thank them for their time and attention.

4 Establish a relationship

If a potential mentor agrees to mentor you, you need to establish a relationship with them based on trust, respect, and mutual benefit. You can do this by setting some ground rules and expectations, such as how often and how long you will meet, what topics or issues you will discuss, what feedback or advice you will seek or provide, and what resources or tools you will use or share. You also need to communicate regularly and effectively, by being honest, clear, and constructive, and by listening, asking, and responding. Moreover, you need to show your commitment and enthusiasm, by being proactive, prepared, and punctual, and by following up, applying, and reflecting.

5 Learn from a mentor

The main purpose of having a mentor is to learn from them and improve your creative problem solving skills. You can do this by taking advantage of their expertise, insights, and perspectives, and by applying them to your own situations, problems, or projects. You can also learn from their feedback, suggestions, and challenges, and by using them to enhance your performance, results, or outcomes. Furthermore, you can learn from their examples, stories, and experiences, and by emulating their habits, behaviors, or attitudes. Additionally, you can learn from their network, connections, and opportunities, and by expanding your own network, connections, and opportunities.

6 Grow with a mentor

Having a mentor is not only a learning opportunity, but also a growth opportunity. You can grow with your mentor by developing a long-term and meaningful relationship that goes beyond the formal mentoring sessions. You can also grow with your mentor by exploring new areas, domains, or disciplines that interest you or challenge you. You can also grow with your mentor by creating new value, impact, or innovation that benefits you, your mentor, or others. You can also grow with your mentor by becoming a mentor yourself, and by sharing your knowledge, skills, and experience with others who need them.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?