I am often reading articles and blog posts that claim a
personal mentor is always needed in today’s business world. But how many of us really have someone we
call a “mentor”, and do we REALLY need one?
The consensus is yes, you need
one.
Ok…now what? Most
likely you already have a trusted mentor you feed off of when needed. Whether you bounce ideas off a close friend,
or talk to a parent when you need advice - almost all of us have someone on
standby as a lifeline. For me, my Grandfather was
almost always that person. His advice
was always unbiased and never self-serving.
But Grandpa wasn’t always the most business savvy guy on the
block. Developing a relationship with
someone who knows the “ins and outs” of business can be invaluable.
There are resources where you can find such a mentor. Some
people utilize their professional relationships at work. Others may use social
media to reach out and find like-minded connections.
Need to find a Mentor sooner rather than later? Here are two
different ways to get the ball rolling.
Reach out publically
to your social networks: I
personally shoot ideas off my LinkedIn connections all the time. However, recently I have discovered a website
called Dumblebee. Dumblebee “was created to connect people with questions
to people with answers, with an end goal of networking within and beyond industries. Whether
it’s for advice about relationships or the need for a second opinion from
someone in the same industry, our website and phone apps are designed to create
clear questions for fast and easy responses. In addition to the unbiased
opinions you can receive from members around the world, experts (verified in
their fields) weigh in making the experience a fully rounded and practical
resource.” Check out their website: www.dumblebee.com
Talk to your trusted
resources at your current job: Someone
that you work with day in and day out will have a good grasp on what makes you
tick, and might be able to give you that extra encouragement when needed. A well-rounded boss can often provide you
with quality mentorship for your career aspirations. In my time working in Higher Education I had
a great mentor who was also my boss. He
would often give feedback that was not only corrective for our goals at hand,
but he delivered that feedback with a “big picture” viewpoint. I once sat in a
board meeting with several of the College’s Vice Presidents and was grilled with
tough questions repetitively. The questions didn’t have easy answers, and often
my answers were acknowledged with blank stares, and simple nods. But looking back at those meetings, they were
only asking me the same questions they were going to have to answer to their constituents
and stakeholders. After those meetings,
I was often debriefed by my mentor – it was always very productive and insightful
to gain his viewpoint behind closed doors.
Who is your current mentor, and how do they play a part
making sure you are ready for your next challenge?
Thanks for reading.
