Pro Tip! Finding Genuine Mentors

Do you ever feel like you've secured a potential mentor, only to realize later that their mentorship was more lip service than genuine investment? We've all been there - someone expresses willingness to "mentor" us, but their actions don't really back that up.

The truth is, finding a quality mentor who will meaningfully guide and support your growth requires going beyond surface pleasantries. It's about building real rapport and assessing if someone is truly committed before making assumptions.

Here are some tips for cultivating authentic mentor relationships:

Test Their Sincerity

When someone agrees to mentor you, don't just take their word for it at face value. Lightly test the waters by asking if you can reach out at unconventional times to see if their support has real backbone. For example, you could say "Thanks so much. Just to clarify, you're OK if I call you late at night or early morning if I have a pressing issue?" Their reaction will give you a sense of whether their mentorship has genuine flexibility.

Reciprocate Investment

Make it clear that you're willing to put in the work to make the mentorship productive and symbiotic. When people sense your commitment, they'll be more inclined to truly invest in you. Offer value back - whether it's taking work off their plate, making intros, or finding other ways to enrich their life.

Identify Covert Mentors

Some of the best mentors are those who organically mentor you without even realizing it. Pay attention to the people who consistently give you high-quality advice, make valuable introductions, and take a real interest in your growth and success. Then, cultivate those relationships more intentionally.

Finding authentic mentors is both an art and consistent practice of assessing people's actions over words. But investing in the right mentorship can be a game-changer for your personal and professional development.