Finding a mentor can be a game-changer for your career. A mentor can offer you valuable insights, feedback, and guidance to help you grow and achieve your goals. But how do you find the right mentor for you? Here are some tips to help you in your search.
Before you start looking for a mentor, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to learn, improve, or achieve in your career. What are your strengths and weaknesses? What are your short-term and long-term objectives? What are the skills or knowledge gaps that you need to fill? Having a specific and realistic vision of your needs will help you narrow down your potential mentors and communicate your expectations.
If one is fortunate he or she will find the mentor within their work circle however one can also have their mentors like the Eklavya by following them deeply although not directly connected and adopting their values methods and philosophy and it is easy in this digital age . Apologies for typo it should read as fortunate
To advance your career, find the right mentor by identifying industry leaders whose values align with yours. Attend industry events, conferences, or networking groups to connect with potential mentors. Reach out with a clear, concise request for mentorship, emphasizing your goals and commitment. Demonstrate eagerness to learn and apply their guidance.
Auf der Suche nach einem passenden Mentor würde ich die folgenden überlegungen anstellen: - Welche konkreten Ziele m?chte ich durch das Mentoring erreichen? - Wo liegen meine gr??ten beruflichen Herausforderungen, an denen ich arbeiten m?chte? - Welche Arbeits- und Vorgehensweise erwarte ich mir von einem Mentor? - Stimmt "die Chemie" zwischen meinem Mentor und mir?
Consider that there are various types of mentors out there these days. Do you need a coach? Or a consultant? Or even a councillor? All of these are available in a wide variety of specialist niches too. A Life Coach will generally deal with your life goals, perhaps looking at your 'present' in order to help you make changes to create the 'future' you want. A Life Councillor will generally be looking at aspects in your past, perhaps that you need to let go of to move forward. I'd give thought to which niche will serve you best. So this will depend on your business sector too (no good speaking with a coach that helps people in finance, if you're in hospitality!). Dig deep into 'your' niche - find specialists with a voice in that area.
To advance in your career, you must figure out what that means and looks like to you. When you know what you want, you can develop a path to get there. Knowing where you want to end up allows you to look for mentors who are farther along the path toward your goal. Keep in mind they may not be the obvious choices picked by others. Your idea of advancement will determine who the right mentor or mentors are.
Once you have identified your needs, you can start researching your options for finding a mentor. You can look within your own organization, your industry, or your network. You can also use online platforms, such as LinkedIn, Mentorship, or Shapr, to connect with professionals who share your interests and goals. You can also join industry associations, events, or communities where you can meet potential mentors. When researching your options, look for mentors who have relevant experience, expertise, and reputation in your field, and who align with your values and vision.
It's also useful to consider how far ahead of you someone is. You may not be able to secure mentoring from someone who is at the peak of the career path you want, and that may not even be the best place to start. Finding someone who is just a few steps ahead of you can be an approach often overlooked by many. You don't need to be mentored directly by Simon Sinek on leadership - finding a leader who's either followed his footsteps or is in your industry and a few years ahead of you likely has valuable and relatable knowledge for where you're currently at.
Decide what areas you want to work on. Self-Improvement, Master-mind, Self-Care, Physical Workouts, Mental Mindness. I list these areas here because I found a specific coach, trainer, and/or mentor to help me in one of these areas. Working on someone with expertise in one of these areas was the difference for me. No one person can address everything you are looking for. Make it a priority to find out what you want and don't settle for less. Normally the best coaches in these areas will often have advice or direct you to someone in another area that can help you address your specific goals you want to obtain. I will say working with different coaches made all the difference for me and the way I live and lead.
After you have shortlisted a few potential mentors, you need to reach out to them and express your interest in learning from them. You can send them a polite and professional email, message, or invitation, where you introduce yourself, explain why you are interested in their mentorship, and highlight what you can offer them in return. You can also ask them for a brief chat or meeting to get to know them better and see if there is a mutual fit. When reaching out and building rapport, be respectful, honest, and enthusiastic, and show that you value their time and expertise.
Firstly, message and communicate with the coach or mentor. Most coaches and mentors offer a 'Discovery Call' - take advantage of this. A good coach who cares will not turn the discovery call into a 'sales call'. It's a two-way conversation to see if you and the coach are a good 'fit'. The coach might not feel his or her expertise is suited to your particular situation, and they might recommend someone else. Equally they might feel they can assist you, but you don't 'click' with them. You're under no obligation on these 'discovery calls' - they typically last 30 minutes, are free, and also open your mind to exactly what you're looking for. Do at least three of these calls before making any decisions to work with that coach or mentor.
If you find a mentor who agrees to work with you, you need to establish clear expectations and goals for your relationship. You need to discuss how often and how long you will meet, what format and tools you will use, what topics and challenges you will cover, and how you will measure your progress and feedback. You also need to agree on the ground rules, such as confidentiality, communication, and commitment. Having a clear and mutual understanding of what you expect and want from each other will help you avoid misunderstandings and conflicts, and ensure a productive and rewarding mentorship.
This is critical...Make sure you know what you are getting into. Trust and integrity should be at the top of your expectation list. From here, make sure you always go over key learnings and track your progress. If you feel uncomfortable about your progress or an ask from a mentor, make sure to speak up. Don't hold it in. Many times the issue can be dealt with very quickly. When you experience a win, inform your mentor and acknowledge the win. Maintain open communication as best as possible and continue to ask lots of questions along the way. Make sure you see this time with a mentor as an opportunistic one. If it becomes drudgery or lacks clear expectations, get out. There are many options out there to work with mentors and coaches.
To make the most of your mentorship, you need to be proactive and open-minded. You need to take initiative, prepare for your sessions, ask questions, seek feedback, and implement the advice and suggestions that your mentor gives you. You also need to be open-minded, willing to learn, and ready to face challenges and opportunities that your mentor presents you with. You also need to be flexible and adaptable, as your needs and goals may change over time, and your mentorship may evolve accordingly.
An open minded attitude to your mentorship sessions is essential. It's important to accept that the reason you are in the place you are now, is because of thoughts and actions that you have taken in the past. Take ownership. Then realise that if you keep having the same thoughts, and taking the same actions, you will keep ending up in your current situation. You know - the one you want to move away from? ?? It sounds simple, but accepting this is groundbreaking. Accept that you are going to have to change your thoughts, in order to change your actions, in order to change your outcome. Hence open-mindedness being so crucial. Take massive action, powered by these new thoughts and feelings, and you cannot fail to transform your life.
Finally, you need to appreciate and reciprocate the value that your mentor provides you with. You need to express your gratitude, acknowledge your achievements, and share your successes with your mentor. You also need to reciprocate the value, by offering your support, skills, or network to your mentor, or by paying it forward and mentoring someone else in the future. Appreciating and reciprocating the value will help you strengthen your relationship, build trust and respect, and create a lasting impact.
Sometimes you need a mentor, sometimes a coach, sometimes a therapist. Practicing self-reflection to determine which of these will help you make the most progress based on where you're currently at, rather than where you aspire to be, can be helpful.