How to Find and Benefit from a Mentor

1 June 2018

We all need direction in our careers. When we find someone who has already been successful, our journey will be a lot smoother.

Finding the right mentor takes a little more work than simply asking for advice from an acquaintance you admire. It requires time, observation, the right person, and prayer. Here are some tips that can help you find a good mentor and benefit from his or her guidance.

Take time to find the right person.

Start by identifying a few potential mentors. These will likely be people who have been successful professionally and are at a point in their careers where they want to give back. They might already be in your personal network. If not, ask people around you if they know anyone who could mentor you. Make a list of these potential mentors.

Observe and study.

Look at the work your potential mentors do. Talk to their coworkers. Follow their blogs. Study their companies and learn from the culture they have helped to create. Do whatever you can to learn about what has made them successful.

Meet and share.

Invite a potential mentor to lunch. Let them know that you want to learn about their motivations, their values, and their professional path. It doesn’t have to be an expensive, formal experience. Ask what an average workday looks like for your potential mentor. Tell them your career goals, and ask if they have any advice to offer. Your meeting will yield valuable advice and insights, so ask if you can take notes.

Follow up.

The next day, express gratitude to your potential mentor for the time spent and for the things you learned. Send a thank-you card. Don’t push for another meeting just yet. Let the lessons sink in.

Make your choice.

Continue to meet with other potential mentors until you feel like you have a good idea of who will be the best fit. Pray for guidance and support. Then contact the person you would like to have as your mentor. Express appreciation again for the first meeting, and ask for a follow-up meeting. In this second meeting, explain how you would like to have a mentor, but let the mentor outline how the relationship might function. People are busy, but good mentors will make room for a once-a-month meeting to give you honest direction and feedback. They will notice your honest efforts, and they might introduce you to their network. Again, let the mentor define the relationship.

Be teachable.

After you have established a relationship with a mentor—or with a few mentors—show a positive attitude. Be humble and teachable. Be open to criticism. Try out advice given to you; mentors want to know that their teachings aren’t falling on deaf ears. Then measure the results. You can do this by keeping a journal of your progress.

Be appreciative.

After successful results, always express gratitude to your mentor. Then, give back to others. Pass on what you learn.