Youve read or heard much on the power and importance of mentors. But how do you find the right one for you? And how do you get past that intimidating, even scary step of approaching someone to be your mentor?
Here are five things to look for in your ideal mentor–and then five ways to reel them in:
Selecting the ideal mentor can be the catalyst that supercharges your professional growth. But how do you go about finding that perfect match? With so many potential candidates, it’s crucial to be strategic in your choice. Look beyond surface qualifications and opt for a mentor who complements your needs and style.
Follow this guide to identify and vet prospective mentors to set your relationship up for mutual success:
Confirm Your Purpose for Wanting a Mentor
Before seeking a mentor, crystallize exactly what you hope to gain from the partnership Do you need specific expertise to break into an industry or role? Are you seeking general career coaching and accountability? Outline the tangible outcomes you want so it’s clear if a mentor can actually help you get there
Common mentorship goals include
- Learning insider knowledge of an industry
- Building technical skills
- Improving leadership abilities
- Expanding professional network
- Gaining visibility for advancement
- Achieving better work-life balance
Once your purpose is defined it’s easier to pinpoint the ideal profile for a mentor who can propel you toward those targets.
Seek Deep Industry Experience
Look for mentors with at least 5-10 years of experience thriving in your desired field. They should deeply understand the landscape, key players, trends, and what it takes to succeed. Experience separates true experts from novices.
Someone established in their career also likely has a broader network to tap into. Build connections through your mentor rather than starting from scratch.
Consider asking early-to-mid career professionals to share their experiences too. They provide a recent on-the-ground view.
Ensure Your Values and Interests Align
Vet a potential mentor’s leadership style, business philosophy, values, and interests. Do they align with what you envision for your career? Shared mindsets and passions foster stronger bonds.
For example, if you wish to lead a purpose-driven organization one day, a mentor who prioritizes social impact will better guide you toward that goal. Seek alignment on big picture vision and motivations.
Confirm Your Communication Styles Mesh
Schedule an intro call with any prospective mentor. Do your conversational styles mesh well? Can you be open and comfortable with each other? Quality mentoring requires transparency and vulnerability from both parties.
Look for positive rapport where you feel heard, understood, and can speak candidly. You want a mentor you click with right off the bat. Don’t ignore red flags of personality mismatches.
Verify They Have Capacity and Availability
Before cementing the partnership, confirm a mentor has sufficient time in their schedule to dedicate to you. Expectations for frequency of communication should be defined upfront.
Ideally, aim to meet at least once a month. See if they are open to additional ad hoc calls as needed. If their plate seems too full, keep looking for a mentor who can be more present.
Ask How They Prefer to Mentor
Mentoring approaches differ. Some mentors provide structured guidance based on your goals. Others offer general advice and networking contacts as needed.
Discuss how involved they envision being. Do they review progress and hold you accountable? Or only offer input when consulted? Figuring out their style allows you to assess fit.
Look for Someone Still Growing Themselves
While industry veterans offer wisdom, also consider rising stars. Professionals still advancing their own careers tend to be more engaged mentors. They offer relatable, relevant advice vs. outdated perspectives.
Connect with mentors still looking to learn and improve themselves. Their energy and aspirational mindset motivates you to reach new heights.
Seek Genuine Interest in Advancing You
Great mentors care about your growth just as much as you do. They enjoy investing time to help you level up versus just hearing themselves talk. Observe their level of selflessness.
Openly ask what excites them about mentoring. Look for mentors who ask thoughtful questions about your goals and take your needs to heart. Mutual investment indicates a fruitful partnership.
Weigh Credentials Against Connection
Impressive mentors with numerous accolades look good on paper but may not be the best fit. At the end of the day, choose based on personality match over status.
A mentor you feel comfortable with motivates you more than a big name who leaves you intimidated. Don’t get starstruck. Opt for someone you bond with.
Set Expectations for Privacy and Confidentiality
Define ground rules upfront regarding maintaining confidentiality of your conversations. You need to feel safe candidly discussing professional struggles or interpersonal conflicts at work.
Clarify whether your mentorship will be made public or kept private. Having agreed upon boundaries breeds trust on both sides.
Outline a Mentorship Action Plan
Create an action plan documenting your goals, milestones, ideal meeting frequency, communication methods, and measures of success. This keeps everyone clear on the desired outcomes.
Revisit and update the plan quarterly. Hold each other accountable for follow through. Plans provide helpful guardrails to keep mentoring on track when life gets busy.
Key Takeaways on Choosing the Right Mentor
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Clearly define the purpose and goals of your mentorship from the get-go.
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Seek mentors with extensive experience in your desired industry or role.
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Ensure your interests, work styles, and values align. Great chemistry is critical.
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Verify they have availability, interest in advancing you, and capacity to be present.
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Set expectations for privacy and outline a mentorship action plan.
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Weigh credentials against personal connection. Bond with someone relatable.
Cast a wide net at first. Trying a few mentoring meetings lets you experience connections firsthand. Trust your intuition on fit. With the right match, you gain a super valuable career ally.
Be prepared, but not presumptuous.
While you want to assume success in your ask and show up prepared, understand that you may get a “no.” Show emotional intelligence, indicating that you know youre asking for a commitment–and that its a privilege to get a “yes”.
They embody characteristics you want to emulate.
Every minute spent with a mentor is precious, so you may as well be a) looking forward to being around them, and b) looking to absorb, reinforce, and replicate shared values.
One Easy Way To Find A Mentor
FAQ
What attributes should you look for when choosing a mentor?
How do you determine a mentor?
How can I find a mentor for me?
How do I find a good mentor?
Ask for the first meeting. A coffee or video call is low commitment for your target mentor and will give you an opportunity to better understand them and see if they’re the right fit for you. Nurture the relationship. Don’t just focus the discussion on work. Take the time to really connect with the other person.
How do you build a good mentorship?
Having a goal for your mentorship helps focus your relationship. Decide what you want to achieve, and develop a plan with your mentor about how to do it. Form a personal relationship. A good personal relationship with your mentor is important for fostering a good mentoring relationship with them.
What makes a good mentor?
The right mentor can help you choose attainable professional goals and reach those goals with personalized guidance. Many professional and personal factors can influence how well a mentoring relationship works. Considering these factors and researching how potential mentors can help you is an important part of finding a great match.
Do you need a mentor?
Mentors are valuable assets to entrepreneurs, especially new or aspiring ones. But finding the right match for you can be difficult. It’s important to vet your choices rather than settle for the first available person. Mentors should understand your personal and professional goals, as well as your strengths, weaknesses and any possible concerns.
