Picking a Mentor - By Michel Roy
According to www.wikipedia.com, the term mentor is defined as a trusted friend, counselor or teacher, usually a more experienced person. Some professions have “ mentoringprograms” in which newcomers are paired with more experienced people in order to obtain good examples and advice as they advance. Many schools have mentoring programs for new students or for those individuals who are having difficulties with their studies.
Today, mentoring programs are offered in an assortment of circles and industries primarily because it’s been proven that working with the right mentor can bring about many valuable lessons. This blog is intended in part to assist participants interested in choosing a mentor by providing experiences, tools and techniques that have proven to work both for myself as well as for others.
Throughout my years of experience, I have been fortunate to study under a number of qualified mentors, each of which has contributed to my success and financial independence. In addition, I myself have acted as a mentor to many aspiring individuals both in my own field as well as other areas of personal growth. Because of my positive experiences, I am a strong proponent of mentoring, especially since I believe in learning from those who have achieved great success. It’s hugely beneficial to accept wisdom from the tried and true, as it keeps us from making unnecessary mistakes.
So, how do we know what to look for when seeking out a mentor? If you’re new to mentorship, there are some things clues to watch for that will keep you from choosing incorrectly. First and foremost, when considering a mentor you should choose a person that you’re certain can really help you progress. While many people claim to be mentors, one of the most important qualifications to look for in a mentor is that he or she has a successful track record of success. In other words, you have gained confidence in the person and their ability to deliver the qualities and qualifications you are seeking. Therefore, don’t be afraid to approach someone that you think would be an ideal mentor. Even if they’ve not mentored previously, for many people, the idea of sharing their path to success is an exciting experience.
One of the keys to selecting a good mentor is looking at how this potential relationship ties in with your personal vision and core values. It would do you no good if the mentor you’re working with sees life from a totally different perspective and doesn’t mesh well with your vision and values. Another aspect of choosing a mentor is considering your intuition. By paying careful attention to your instincts and past experiences you can tell a great deal about a potential candidate. So trust your own inner guidance. You also want to be sure that your mentor has time to teach and evaluate your performance because feedback is critical to your success. Therefore finding a mentor that works well with you is a two-way street.
When choosing a mentor it’s also important to remember that in order for you to create value for your company, be a member of a team and contribute your particular set of skills such as organization, getting tasks done effectively, analyzing situations, preparing summaries and reports, it’s important that you do whatever it takes to accommodate your mentor. When building this important relationship, it is your job to find ways to communicate effectively with your mentor. A good way to resolve the issue of communication is by putting your agreement in writing. When things are written down, it keeps both of you focused and in alignment and above all holds each to their commitment. To build credible trust, it’s important when negotiating your arrangement with your mentor that you make sure you have clear expectations of each other
After about 30 days, review your agreement and determine whether things are working out as agreed upon. If not, it’s time to discuss what’s working and what needs to change. Be open and available to make these changes. If after a period of time you find everything is working out well between you and your mentor, from that point forward, periodic review sessions are a good rule of thumb.
The Rule of Thumb for Picking a Mentor
- Choose a person that you’re certain can really help you progress
- Don’t be afraid to approach someone that you think would be an ideal mentor.
- Consider how this potential relationship ties in with your personal vision and core values.
- Make sure your mentor has time to teach and evaluate your performance
- Whatever agreement you make with your mentor, make sure to put it in writing.
- Always have clear expectations of each other
- Be sure you can count on confidentiality
At some point, you will wind down and end the formal aspect of your mentor arrangement. For the mentor to gain insight into his or her mentoring capabilities, they need to have feedback from you. Therefore, finding concrete ways to show your acknowledgement and appreciation for his or her valuable mentoring is an aspect of this special partnership that should definitely be recognized.
Finally, many go on to do other things with their mentors involving business and in some cases forming partnerships as these type of relationships open up the opportunity for other types of bonds to begin.
