Finding a Mentor

Finding a Mentor

Mentors are pretty amazing. Consider all the ways a mentor can benefit you:

- Gives guidance to help you reach your goals

- Supports you in your best efforts, especially when down or discouraged

- Takes some of the mystery out of the next steps

- Helps you find new ways to grow

- Assists you in making positive connections with others through networking

While mentors are pretty incredible, the journey to finding one isn't. It can be downright complicated unless you have the right approach. This is where these simple steps will come in handy.

Prepare Yourself

No one's going to want to mentor you unless you're ready to be mentored. As a mentee, you need to be open-minded, take criticism, and not be defensive when things go wrong. You'll have to be a hard worker and able to prove just how much effort you're willing to go through to succeed. You're going to need to be great at communicating, listening, and expressing your needs.

Create Goals

While you might want a mentor in several areas of life, you'll have better success if you're specific in what you want and need. Start with only a few very specific goals.

Be Selective

When looking for a mentor, you're going to want to start looking for candidates in your network. Think about people who are further along in the pursuit of goals that you want to do. You also might want to consider the personalities of those you select, picking those you know communicate well or feel like you can work with.

Have a Pitch

Never leave asking to chance, and don’t “wing it” when it comes time for a conversation to happen. Once you know who you want as your mentor, take the time to create an appropriate pitch before going further. Be sure to include details about your goals, what you hope to get out of the relationship, and exactly what you intend to put into it.

Ask!

Asking can be the hardest part of the process. At some point, you're going to have to quit polishing the pitch and get the asking part over with. The key here is to catch the individual when they have time to talk, which means setting up an actual appointment or meeting to discuss the matter would be much better than waylaying them in the elevator.

In the end, keep a positive attitude no matter how this goes. And remember: even if one of your potential mentors says 'no,' this is no reason to quit. Move on to the next person on your list and try again. Eventually, you will find the right mentor for you.

You know what we are about to say...

Go implement the steps needed to find someone who is where you want to be and then do what it takes to get them to invest in YOU!

~ Your Game Changer Team