HBR Guide to Getting the Mentoring You Need (HBR Guide Series)

Introduction

Taking Charge of Your Career

by Tamara Erickson

Think of the most valuable insights you’ve gained about work and life. Chances are, those gems came to you through some form of mentoring, not from textbooks or classroom lectures. People with the experience, knowledge, skills, or perspective you seek have shared their wisdom with you, maybe even helped you put it to use.

Mentoring is indispensable to learning throughout our careers, not just while we’re wet behind the ears. It’s how we identify and fill critical gaps we’d struggle to address on our own. A good mentor is part diagnostician, assessing what’s going on with you now, and part guide, connecting you with the advice, ideas, people, and resources you need to grow and move ahead. ...