You’re looking for a mentor. How can you use your interpersonal skills to find one?

1 Identify your goals

Before you start looking for a mentor, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and learn from the relationship. What are your strengths and weaknesses? What are your short-term and long-term objectives? What are the skills and knowledge gaps that you want to fill? Having a specific and realistic vision of your goals will help you narrow down your search and communicate your expectations to potential mentors.

2 Research potential mentors

Once you have your goals in mind, you can start researching people who have the experience, expertise, and reputation that you admire and aspire to. You can look for mentors within your organization, industry, or network, or outside of them. You can use online platforms, such as LinkedIn, to find profiles of professionals who match your criteria. You can also ask for referrals from your colleagues, friends, or contacts. When you research potential mentors, pay attention to their background, achievements, values, and interests, and see how they align with yours.

4 Ask for feedback and advice

Once you have built some rapport with a potential mentor, you can ask them for feedback and advice on your goals, challenges, or opportunities. You can also ask them about their own career journey, lessons learned, and best practices. This will help you gain valuable insights and perspectives from their experience and expertise. It will also show them that you are eager to learn and improve yourself. You can use your interpersonal skills to receive feedback and advice effectively, such as being open-minded, respectful, and curious. You can also show gratitude and acknowledge their contribution to your growth.

5 Follow up and maintain contact

After you have received feedback and advice from a potential mentor, you need to follow up and maintain contact with them. You can send them a thank-you note, summarizing what you learned and how you plan to apply it. You can also update them on your progress and achievements, and ask for further guidance or support if needed. You can also share relevant information, resources, or opportunities that might interest them. The goal is to keep the communication flowing and the relationship growing. You can use your interpersonal skills to follow up and maintain contact effectively, such as being responsive, respectful, and reliable.

6 Propose a formal mentoring relationship

If you have established a strong and mutually beneficial relationship with a potential mentor, you can propose a formal mentoring relationship. You can ask them if they would be interested and willing to be your mentor, and explain how you value their input and support. You can also discuss the expectations, goals, and boundaries of the mentoring relationship, such as the frequency, duration, and format of the meetings, the topics and agenda of the discussions, and the feedback and evaluation methods. You can use your interpersonal skills to propose a formal mentoring relationship effectively, such as being clear, confident, and respectful.

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?