Getting to Know Your Mentor

Let’s talk about mentorship because we are the Global Mentor Network. And even great leaders we know are not above receiving feedback, in fact, they welcome feedback and always look for opportunities to grow and learn. Do you have a mentor or have had mentors?

always struggle with this question. I’ll be honest with you because I’ve never had... Oftentimes when we talk about mentors, there’s a way I think it’s normally portrayed, which is like, “Oh, I had a mentor when I was 25 and this person was older and whatever. And I met with him once, it’s really structured.” It’s beautiful storybook and if you have that, great. That’s the best scenario as to build a relationship with someone who’s really invested in you and your success.
I’ve never had one mentor that I could go to for everything. So, I would say yes, I’ve had mentors, but not like that. They’ve been people who have supported me at times where I wasn’t sure of a decision. They’ve been people I trust who have talked to about something they’re excited about that I don’t understand yet. Or maybe they’ve been through a change that I haven’t been through. But I’m hard-pressed to mention even one or two people who have reliably been there for me for everything. But yes, I think it’s really important to reach out proactively and possible because it’s just too hard to do everything yourself.

How did you go about approaching people for these bits of advice? Even though you didn’t officially label them a mentor, they mentored you in many ways. How do you go about finding these people and approaching them and getting them to help you?

Yeah. I would say mentorship is kind of like developing friendships. You don’t ever know who’s going to be your best friend, it all starts the same way, it all starts with like, “Hi, I’m meeting you for the first time, this is awkward. And it’s…

“You’re really cool.”

“I like your dress, I like your purse,” whatever, right? And if you leave it at that, then you’re not going to get much out of that friendship, right? But if you say, “Hey, we should grab brunch soon,” and then you actually follow up and go grab brunch and get to know that person, then you are on your way to developing your friends, right?
And I would say it’s the same with mentorship. I don’t think it really works. I don’t know if you probably hear lots of stories about mentorship, but I personally have never known what to do when people say, “Hey, I’m looking for a mentor, would you be my mentor?” Because that’s like going up to a stranger on the street and saying, “You want to be my best friend?” I don’t know yet if we’re going to get along, I don’t know if I can add value, it’s also a give-and-take relationship we haven’t developed.
So, it’s almost like I’m comfortable with those. But I am much more in tune to people who say, “Hey, I have a question for you. You’ve been through it before, I’m wondering if you could get in perspective.” I love those conversations because then I feel like my time is worthwhile.