The Value of a Mentor

Mentors can be critical to the growth and success of your career or business. Defined as a ‘wise and trusted counselor or teacher', a mentor is a person who can guide you, help you, take you under his or her tutelage, and nurture your progress in the field.

Choosing a mentor who is a talented and experienced person in the field can be beneficial for you. This is not only because he or she can teach you theory and technique, but having had real life experiences, he or she can prepare you for real-world situations and perhaps even help you find the right opportunities.

Knowing the right people saves you time in your search for success.

Finding a good mentor

• To find a mentor on your own, first identify someone you admire and respect. You can choose someone from your own network or outside it -- or both. Some people choose more experienced mentors at a high organisational level so that they, too, can aspire to the top of the ladder.

• Your mentor is someone you probably have good chemistry with who will share stories with you about his or her own climb to success.

• It is a good idea to choose someone who shares your values and has a positive attitude.

• A mentor is someone who is not afraid to criticise constructively. He should be someone with whom you can talk freely with about your business or career issues.

• A mentor is often in a position you would like to be in and has the connections to guide you to a similar position. He or she can introduce you to the movers and shakers in the industry.

• A mentor has good listening skills and is easy to communicate with.

• Mentors possess emotional intelligence, intuition, a quest to continue learning, and a desire to bring about change.

• Ideally, a mentor should be more of a coach than adviser -- one who makes you decide by offering intelligent suggestions and choices, rather than telling you what to do.

How to make your mentor-mentee relationship work

• A mentor can be your role model, for as long as you are comfortable with the image in which your mentor is molding you to become -- as his or her protégé.

• Openness, honesty, realistic expectations, accountability, and ability to admit mistakes and failures make for a good relationship.

• Set boundaries relating to confidentiality and time commitments.

• Do not overburden your mentor by demanding too much attention from him or her, or becoming overly dependent.

• The relationship is especially productive when the mentor believes he or she can learn from you, and thus the relationship becomes mutually beneficial.

• Express that you value and appreciate your mentor's guidance. The feeling of being needed and making a difference in a protégé's life will often be a rewarding payoff for the mentor, but don't be afraid to supplement that appreciation with a token gift, flowers, or by picking up the bill when you share a meal. Sometimes a simple note is enough to praise your mentor for his or her contribution to your professional growth.

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