Choosing a mentor is one of the most critical decisions you can make. A good mentor can transform your life— in fact, studies show that good mentoring can lead to much success, including higher profits and increased opportunities. With this in mind, it’s important to pick your mentor carefully and not just jump into the first mentor-mentee relationship that comes your way. Rather, take some time to research potential mentors, and evaluate whether they are a good fit. Here are four things to ask yourself when choosing a mentor:
Your mentor is someone you will work closely with. Thus, it’s important that your values align so that the mentor-mentee relationship isn’t forced or strained. While you can’t force all of someone’s values to be an exact match of your own, you can ensure that you choose a mentor whose beliefs about “the big things in life” mirror your own.
First, think about and write down your own values, and then look for these in potential mentors. Compatibility is an essential component of a successful mentor-mentee relationship. That being said, you don’t want your mentor to be your clone. A certain degree of contrast is necessary, as it is this contrast that will challenge you and enable you to grow. As long as there is some common ground about the things that matter, don’t shy away from choosing a mentor who is younger than you, is of a different gender or comes from a different economic background.
Your mentor should be someone who is considered an expert in his or her field. While you don’t need to find someone with many years of experience or an executive title, you should narrow your prospects to someone who has enough knowledge and expertise to advise you effectively. Look out for someone who is inspiring, approachable, and has made an impact, even if it is a small one.
Additionally, consider whether your potential mentor has a network of important contacts. Ultimately, you’ll want your mentor to be considered an expert by others too; so that he/she can help you better understand the field and possibly open doors for you
A successful mentor-mentee relationship is founded in trust. Trust allows you to tell your mentor things in confidence, which you will inevitably have to do at some point in your relationship. Likewise, your mentor should be able to trust you too. Mutual trust plays an important role in conflict resolution, as well as during evaluation and feedback sessions.
While trust isn’t built overnight, you should be able to see a future of mutual trust when choosing your mentor. Take some time to get to know your potential mentor, and lay down your expectations about trust from the very beginning of your relationship — this way, the relationship can move forward in a constructive manner.
Mentoring is not for everyone. Your potential mentor should be one who is able to empathize with you, and relate to you and your business. If you are struggling, your mentor should be able to have an enlightening conversation with you and guide you in the right direction. Be sure to take into account how your potential mentor got to where he/she is today — someone who has been in similar situations to you and worked through them is often a better fit than someone with completely unrelated past experiences.
Look into your potential mentor’s past track record, especially in regards to his/her ability to help other mentees grow. A mentor who has coached a variety of mentees can draw upon their various experiences to better help you succeed. Consider these factors when choosing a mentor.
Here at GMGB, we pride ourselves on being skilled mentors. Our team comprises of individuals who have plenty of expertise in their respective fields, all of which is available to you. We believe in an integrated holistic approach to mentorship, that has yielded much success time and time again. Feel free to contact us to learn more about our customized approach and how you can benefit from it.
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