How Do You Find the Right Mentor for You?
“When you know yourself, you are empowered. When you accept yourself, you are invincible.” ~ Tina Lifford
Have you noticed how many successful business people are talking about their mentors and how those mentors have helped them to push beyond their roadblocks and enabled them to achieve more than they ever thought possible? It’s no secret that their success comes from tapping into the wisdom of others. Yet in day-to-day conversations, mentorship isn’t often discussed.
Is mentorship only for high-powered executives or can anyone find real value in seeking a mentor? If you’re someone who isn’t satisfied with where you are in life, it’s time to reach out to a mentor. That doesn’t mean you need to ask a stranger, “Will you be my mentor?” Your mentor should be someone you know and trust.
Where should you look for a mentor?
Remember that mentorship is a relationship. It might be a relationship with someone you’ve known for a long time, like your trusted and successful uncle. Or it could be a professional life coach that you follow and admire. The best way to form a relationship is to spend time with the person who knows what you want to learn.
Here are some suggestions for where to look for a mentor:
- Friends
- Family
- Colleagues
- Recommendations from people you trust
- Leaders in groups or organizations, schools or programs you’ve been associated with
- Reputable life coaches locally
- Reputable online mentors (The internet removes any limits to successfully building a relationship with a mentor who lives across the country.)
Can you think of two or three people who have done what you want to do in a way that you’d be proud to model yourself after? Reach out to one of them and have a conversation about one of your concerns. (Keep your visit short so you don’t wear out your welcome.) Do they kindly take time to talk with you? Are they more than willing to share their expertise? If so, let them know how much their help has meant to you. This is the foundation for building a great relationship with your mentor. If you don’t find a good response, then try the next person on your list.
The same principles apply to reaching out to an online mentor. Read what they’ve written on their website, listen to them, and interact with them on Facebook and LinkedIn. Ask good questions and pay attention to their responses.
Mentors are invaluable for so many reasons, but essentially they provide knowledge, motivation, advice, counsel, encouragement when you need it most, guidance for personal development and so much more. If you’re lucky enough to find a personal mentor who can be all of these things to you, you’ll have an advantage over many others, because you have a secret weapon that can take you to the top!
Do you have a concern you’d like to ask me about? Come over to my Facebook Page and leave a comment about the one thing that concerns you the most right now. I’d love to hear from you.