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This section will look at the benefits of having a mentor and then explore how you can find someone willing to mentor you.
Benefits of a Mentor
The previous section identified that experience is an essential component of developing your wisdom, but experiences vary in their capacity to foster your growth. A good mentor will help you organize your experiences to pull out relevant learning.[1] They will challenge you to reflect on how you perceive the challenges you face, your methods of addressing those problems, the actions you have taken, and the effectiveness of those actions.[2][3]
Another benefit of mentoring is this. We learn from mistakes, but no one said those mistakes have to be our own. A good mentor will share their experience with you, helping you to avoid making the same mistakes they made.
“Zen proverb” by Brad C. Anderson is licensed under CC BY 4.0 / A derivative from the original work
All this may sound great, but how does one find a mentor? The next section explores this question.
Finding a Mentor
This section presents a North American business perspective. Consequently, some of the advice may be inapplicable to other industries and cultures. Do your due diligence to learn about the appropriate way to approach mentors in the field and the culture in which you are operating.
Commonly, people feel nervous approaching others to ask for mentoring. Individuals in a position to mentor are often very busy and in positions of authority. It may feel like an imposition to ask them to give some of their valuable time to you.
Though people who have achieved the qualities that would make them a good mentor are often busy, you may be surprised by the number of people willing to help if you approach them with respect and a genuine desire to learn. Many people enjoy the opportunity to share what they have learned with others. The following paragraphs discuss the qualities of a good mentor, how to approach them, and how to maintain the relationship.
A Good Mentor
A good mentor is someone you perceive as wise in an area you wish to develop. If you want to be a wise leader, seek out someone you consider a wise leader. If you hope to be a wise parent, seek out a wise parent, and so on. The person you reach out to for mentoring should be someone with whom you feel comfortable. Ideally, they will have had experience with the types of situations you face.
The criteria that make a mentor ideal for you may change as your vocation progresses. There will come times when you have learned all you can from one individual. Recognize that you may have many mentors throughout your life. Mentoring is not a “one and done” type of endeavour but rather a dynamic, life-long process.
Where to Find Mentors
Where can you find a mentor? There are many places, including but not limited to, the following.
- Work
- Your personal and professional network
- Mentorship programs
- Industry events
- Business associations
- Conferences
- Volunteering
- Social media