The 4 Mentors You Need Right Now

"Mentors are elusive. You hear about them. People tell you that you need them. But where are they? Is there a Mentor Store no one is telling me about?! Who are they? Once I find one how do I to engage with them?! Is it like asking them out on a date?! Help!"

I received this email from a university student. After a laugh about his Mentor Store idea, (not bad!) I realized we often talk about the "why" behind mentors but never where to find them, who they are and how to form a fruitful two-way relationship. Mentors are like a cheat code in a video game. Once you have them you'll never play the same way again. (Tweet this!)

Outside perspective is crucial when it comes to furthering your career. Bringing someone in to help weigh all elements of an opportunity or think through an idea can help you see the bigger picture and spot things you were missing. Personally, I had a few mentors when I was at university but my relationship with them was spotty. After graduation I continued my lackluster approach to mentorship, but after the second year at my corporate job I decided to get serious and put a roadmap together of where I was, where I wanted to be and who could help me get there.

With the dynamics of a changing world (technology, social media, capabilities), I knew that value can be found in the sage, old school, been-around-the-block senior vice president as well as the relatively young, innovative, digitally-native marketing coordinator. One is not better than the other. (Tweet this!)

It dawned on me that I needed more than one or two mentors if I wanted a wide ranging perspective. I started grouping my mentors and advisors into four distinct categories. This categorization allows me to consider advice from individuals varying in age, gender, experience, industry, etc – thus opening the door to new conversations and perspectives. I had unlocked the "who" portion of the mentorship game.

There are four main mentor categories. Each plays a different role when considering career moves and changes. The two main components of each category are the strength of your relationship (ex. this is an acquaintance versus this person has seen me cry) and if they know the industry that you work in (ex. your ex-boss versus a family member with no background in what you do). Dividing my mentors into these four categories has allowed me to make decisions about my career path with confidence.

Type 1: Knows Your Industry + Knows You Personally

From in-the-trenches stories to best-practice scenarios, these individuals know what you are going through and how you personally handle situations. Are you quick to react? See things as glass half full? Mentors in this category know your strengths and weaknesses. They can help you come up with solutions to improve your weaknesses or toss out new opportunities to play up your strengths. Their advice is very specific and extremely helpful for dealing with short-term goals, problems or delicate in-office work scenarios.

Examples: An old boss, a fellow co-worker/friend, or a friend at similar company in the same industry as you.

Type 2: Knows Your Industry + Doesn't Know You Personally

From boardrooms to client relations, these are the individuals who know what it’s really like to work and live in your industry. While they know you, you wouldn’t call them out of the blue or invite them out for dinner. These people are great for giving you an honest look at your career in the industry without worrying about your feelings, giving straight-to-the-point feedback. Since you don't have a lot to catch up on personally, you are often only meeting or speaking with them for half an hour with a set agenda. These individuals are valuable resources for exploring new opportunities, discussing career pivots or giving you ideas about getting ahead.

Examples: A past client you have good rapport with, an acquaintance in your industry or a friend of a friend introduction.

Type 3: Doesn't Know Your Industry + Knows You Personally

From fielding emotional meltdowns to trading personal workday anecdotes, these are the individuals who can lend an ear because they know you well. While they don’t work in your industry, they will provide a brilliant third-party perspective on your career path. You never have to worry about them getting lost in the weeds of an issue as they aren't familiar with the inner workings of your job. These individuals give advice on ways to handle various situations and relationships with clients, superiors or internal colleagues because they know how you see the world. This is the perfect mentor to go to if you have a new product or service you're thinking. Due to their lack of knowledge of your industry, this person can give a solid consumer-based opinion.

Examples: A close friend, a relative, spouse/significant other, or a roommate. 

Type 4: Doesn't Know Your Industry + Doesn't Know You Personally

From career-building advice to a third-person perspective on your life and your work, this type of mentor is one of the most important but also the hardest to find. While this mentor knows you, they won't spoon-feed you what you want to hear. They will help you gain perspective on the bigger picture, inspire long-term goals, and provide unbiased industry and personal feedback.

Example: A recommended and trusted business coach or consultant. Make sure he or she has a current client list, so you can check references!

Have I set aside time to think about my mentors? If not, set aside time to brainstorm individuals who you look up to, respect or are fond of. As you brainstorm, list people you used to work with, clients you loved or ex-bosses you really enjoyed. Once you have all the names written out see which categories those individuals fall into. Identify which categories you have covered and where you may need to think harder about who you know.

Now that you know who to find and where to find them, consider how you will engage.

Here are some best practices when it comes to structuring a mentor-mentee relationship:

1.) Keep it Casual - Mentorship doesn't have to be stuffy and formal. From a quick 15 minute check in call to a string of text messages, mentor relations can be shaped to fit what works best for everyone. Ask, "What is the best way for me to communicate with you if I have a question or want your feedback on something?"

2.) Set an Agenda - Respect people's time and energy. Have an agenda, goal or question you want answered for every meeting. State your agenda when setting up the meeting and send it again the day before as a refresh.

3.) Ask for Homework - Don't leave the meeting empty handed! Always ask for follow up materials. Ask, "Thanks for your advice today on XYZ, do you have any podcasts, books or newsletters you recommend to help me keep learning about this?"

4.) Be Helpful - Mentorship is a two way street! There could be plenty of areas where you can be helpful to your mentor. Ask, "I saw you're working on XYZ, is there anything I can do to help?" One time a mentor casually stated that she needed customer feedback on a new product. I took it upon myself to volunteer to try it. I went by her office, picked up a prototype, tested it, typed my feedback and delivered the prototype back to the office. Look for opportunities to be a value add!

This week work on a list of people in your life that may fit into one or more of these mentor types. The hardest part is getting started, so get out a paper and pen and start brainstorming!

Start here.

If you'd be interested in having me as a mentor, learn more here.

__________________________________________________________________________

What Works is a weekly series that gives you access to wildly successful individuals & their everyday tools, tips, & tricks for making your career & life easier. Learn in real time (from the best!) so you can skip straight to what works.

Easy, *Free* Resource: 5 Ways to Maximize LinkedIn in 1 Day

Watch: How I started my business on LinkedIn's Entrepreneurship Foundations. For more insights on how we built a multi-million dollar business with ZERO investors check out my Bootstrapping course.

Join In: Sit down every Wednesday at 1pm EST on LinkedIn Live with world-class CEO's, founders, experts & executives. Each week we learn from guests and each other how to answer the ultimate question, "What's working for you?"

Share: If you enjoyed this, please share with others via Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp or LinkedIn.

?