Many people have asked me how do I find a mentor and how do I make the most of that relationship?
Here is your three step play:
1. Find your mentor
- Get noticed through hard work. Mentors often find mentees who remind them of how hard they worked to get where they are.
- Pay it forward. Give before you get. Sharing your best ideas, humbly, will get you more ideas and mentorship back.
- Put your hand up
- Be willing to reach out to your manager/ leadership team for recommendations. Find someone in another segment or someone with a different point of view that is more experienced than you.
- Ask your manager if he/she would be willing to make a warm intro. Be ready to demonstrate “Is this person worth my time?” and have the goods to back it up.
2. Respect each other’s time
- Come to every meeting 5 minutes early.
- Have a clear intention for what you’d like to discuss every time you meet.
- Provide one challenge you would like guidance on.
- Treat it like a customer meeting. Send the agenda over in advance so that your mentor can review.
3. Demonstrate gratitude
- Always thank your mentor for their time, and follow up on action items promptly.
- Manage the logistics. Schedule time monthly in the calendar and be willing to be flexible.
- Be open to reverse mentorship and don’t underestimate the value of your unique point of view and having an ear to the ground.
Thanks to a passionate member of my team (Sasha) who helped me think this through as we talked about mentoring today.
Have a great end to the week!
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