How can role models help you make better career decisions?

One of the best ways to 'organise' your role models is by identifying and connecting with 6 to 8 who will form your 'board of advisors'. Your board will be role models you have the chance to interact and create a personal relationship with. What's really important is to have a diverse board, people who will take on on different kinds of roles with you, for example as sponsor or mentor, or coach or bosses. You don't want them to all have the same views, you want this board to both support AND challenge you and your thinking. Some you might interact with daily or weekly, others you might interact with twice a year. Some might give you guidance about networks, others the skills to develop, and yet others the mindset you need to succeed.

The first and foremost thing to do when looking for role models, is to identify what "role" in your life you want to get better at. People usually choose celebrated personalities as role models only to find that while they excel in one area they may be limited or sometimes even be completely failing in other areas. Thus, what your want to learn and emulate from whom needs to be highly discrete and clear for your own self. One should look at specific roles that they want to get better at and then identify some of the key people in those roles who have been successful. For example, I want to improve my sales skills so I look for key thoughtleaders who produce good content on youtube which is worth listening and following.

Role models have a unique space in career development. Some are role models by choice others are sought but have desire to be a role model. When seeking advise on career we need to differentiate between the two and decide whom do we seek advise from, a role model can have a lasting impact. They need to understand the current trends in the industry at a global level and talk at the same level to the person seeking advise.

Someone might be ahead of someone and still behind in the future version of themselves. It always starts with the self. You might be a role model for someone. Deep dive yourself first into what you have and what you lack. Improve what you have, and search for the people who can help you with what you lack. You might not need a role model to chase, you can become your role model to chase yourself.

Look on LinkedIn, at work, in your life, and in the media who emulates what you want to accomplish. Learn from them from afar and in person whenever possible. Be a student of success.

Having a mentor who can guide you through your career journey.This person could be a trusted boss,or an experienced professional whom you consider as a role model.

Important keys to note when connecting with a role model are; Ensure that this connection is a connection of value exchange. What this means is that it's not all about you receiving value alone but also you offering value as well. Connecting with a role model must come from the place of what value can I offer to this role model that will make me a person of value to them in exchange of them helping me become the best version of myself. This approach works beautifully every time. In connecting with a role model, be authentic, respectful, understand boundaries, be on the driver's seat of this relationship and always show gratitude.

Role models provide you with a How To blueprint. They are a practical guide in addition to an experienced example in your field of interest, or area of personal development. They have qualities and practical skillsets that inspire you, or sharpen your thinking and responses. They can help you test your thinking and ideas, reflect, and plan. It is not necessary to only think of role models as mentors, or coaches. Instead, they may provide you with a live learning context whereby you see them in action, and you therefore, learn by doing.

Note that, Role Models are not there to do everything for you. They simply help you through feedbacks, advice, sometimes coaching to achieve your career objectives. They help you see the potentials that you might not even see in yourself. They open your eyes to new possibilities, they give you new perspectives, they point you in the right direction. They follow up to know how well you're on track with set objectives and they give you words of encouragement. Role Models don't do the work for you. They are there to serve as a guide and to ensure you are doing the right work needed to attain your desired goals.

Role models serve as Templates of how we should conduct ourselves, the path that we should follow and lessons we can learn from thier mistakes. We shouldn't aspire to be exactly like them. The goal is to understand thier journey, learn from thier mistakes, adopt thier principles, innovate where needed, reproduce where it's required without losing your authentic self. At the end of the day, in emulating a role model the objective is to be the best version of you and achieving your desired future objectives.

This is an important point. No role model knows everything. Identify what you want to get better at and have at least one role model for each area. Someone good at tech, sales, public speaking..... Make it your own. Just because it worked for them doesn't mean it will work for you. It will probably come off fake if you blindly copy what someone else does. Take what makes sense to you from each of your role models and do your own thing

It is always fun when you can track the career progression of your mentors. It gives you some motivation and empowerment that you can do it too!

I believe instead of waiting on a role model who can spend time to meet and gauge my abilities, I should begin with certain tools available and learn from the information on successful people around even in a group setting. Continuously improving on filling the gaps known to me or suggested by seniors can make me learn from anyone anywhere and even books, blogs, YouTube. Once I am on a positive spiral of self improvement, there will be very few who inspire me to get better in my chosen arena. That time I would need a set of Gurus who might make me reach the pinnacle. Such Guru disciple pairs are rare though, so I take charge of my success following the mix of learnings that best fit my criterion and my accountability partners are my heroes.

A role model may suggest assessing your passions and skills, setting clear goals, seeking mentorship, gathering information about potential career paths, and being open to adaptability and growth. They might also emphasize the importance of aligning your values with your chosen career and making decisions that contribute to your overall well-being and fulfillment.