Mentor #2: The Champion of Your Cause
They could not just be your personal mentor but could also be your link to other useful people in the industry.
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They are like actual Jedi masters who possess wisdom acquired from experiences.
Turn to this person when you need advice about launching a new initiative or brainstorming where you should work next
Mentors are not just someone you look up to, but someone who could be by your side supporting and advising you. It's more than just a mentor-mentee relationship, because both of you are committed to assist and collaborate with each other.
In life, it is just natural to encounter problems and this is where the anchor goes in. This mentor serves as a support especially during challenging times.
As a mentor, you do not only teach, but you also learn from your mentees, from their experiences and improve your own leadership style.
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To develop a successful mentoring relationships:
- Design the Alliance. Both parties must have an agreement on the contact and response times, meetings, confidentiality, focus, feedback, and goals and accountability.
- Get to Know Each Other. It is important to have a strong relationship and trust before focusing on the problem.
- Set the Agenda. Be clear on the purpose and goals of the program.
- Reflect and Evaluate. Know if there is a progress or development gained from the mentoring every few meetings.
- Closeout. Before parting ways, have a closure with each other. Reflect and appreciate what both parties have learned and gained from the experience.
It is who you know in life that helps you move forward.
To ensure you build up your own list of contacts, find people around you who know everyone and ask them to help you with introductions.
A mentor..
- Takes a long-range view of your growth and development.
- Helps you see the destination but does not give you the detailed map to get there.
- Offers encouragement and cheerleading, but not "how to" advice.
A mentor does not..
- Serve as a coach as explained above.
- Function as an advocate of yours in the organizational environment such as your boss would; the relationship is more informal.
- Tell you how to do things.
- Support you on transactional, short-term problems.
- Serve as a counselor or therapist.