Volume 10 ~ Find a Mentor and Learn from a Pro

In a recent conversation following one of my in-house workshops, a manager confided that she needed some direction in her career. When I suggested she find a mentor within her company, she bristled with indignation. "Are you kidding? I've been here longer than anyone else in my department. How could any of them possibly know more than I do? And if I ask for help, it sends a message that I don't know what I'm doing." So while the other managers continued to meet regularly to discuss ideas, support one another and work as a team, she refused to participate. Instead of being viewed as the manager who had it all together, she was seen as someone who needed help but was too proud - and insecure - to ask.

Working with a mentor can increase your knowledge and cut your learning curve. There are several ways to begin the process. Here is one suggestion to connect with someone respected in your industry or your company. Identify a key professional and write her a short note, explaining that you would like to meet briefly to ask some specific questions about how to advance your career. Ask her to choose a convenient time and place - maybe over lunch. To maximize the experience, bring questions prepared in advance, take notes on the responses, and fill in the details following your meeting while they are still fresh in your mind. Lunch should be your treat. Follow up with a note of thanks and, if you are both satisfied with the experience, ask if you can meet again in a couple of months to talk about your progress.

Most successful people are willing to serve as mentors. They are happy to return the favor because they remember when someone else helped them along the way. A mentee should be organized, considerate, and appreciative. Unfortunately, some mentees don't take time to prepare. A mentor shared her negative experience with a new mentee who was clueless about the value of building a strong relationship.

"Taking time from a busy schedule to meet for lunch when she called, I asked her to bring a list of specific questions to focus our discussion. Instead, she asked me to tell her everything I had done over the past twenty years to become a success. That conversation could have lasted a full day. But I decided to share as much as I could within the hour. When I suggested that she take notes, she told me she had a pretty good memory and, if she forgot anything, she could always call me and have me repeat the information. At the end of the hour she thanked me for treating her to lunch and didn't even offer to pay her half of the bill. I haven't heard from her since. And that's fine with me. Her lack of consideration will make it difficult to build a relationship with a mentor. And that could impact her career in the long haul."

No matter what field you're in and how much you know, there are people you can learn from and who can teach you more. A mentor can guide, tutor, counsel, advise and coach. Some managers find mentors within their companies who can contribute to the success of their careers. Others look outside their companies for the guidance they need. Wherever YOU look, make sure you take advantage of every opportunity to learn from a Pro.

© Copyright Jean Gatz, CSP, keynote speaker and workshop leader. Author of How to Be the Person Successful Companies Fight to Keep and Mama Said There'll be Days Like This, www.jeangatz.com.

Jean delivers keynotes and workshops to help people live life with wisdom, courage and a sense of humor as they focus on the people and issues that really matter. Feel free to forward this article to a colleague. To reproduce this article in any format, please contact Jean for permission.

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