Unleashing Your Inner Leader: An Executive Coach Tells All

CHAPTER 7

Mentoring: Helping Others and Helping Yourself

Mentoring is the relationship between two people in which there is mutual learning and sharing. Successful mentoring means that you need to have a goal and pick a mentor who has experience in that concept and can help you reach your goal. A mentor is usually not your boss or anyone in your direct department. Having a new mentor every 6 months will give you 10 people in 5 years with whom you have a deep business relationship and who will be able to help you evolve your career. This chapter provides six steps to find and work with a mentor.

CASE STUDY

Melanie was working to improve her networking skills. One day she mentioned meeting Jan, this awesome woman who was in exactly the position that she would like to be in 10 years, although at another company. When I asked Melanie whether she would ask Jan to be her mentor, her response was, “I couldn't possibly do that. Jan is so well known and respected in her field. Why would she want to mentor me?”

This is the shortest chapter in this book and the one that delivers the most return on investment (ROI). Mentoring is the best-kept secret of all successful business professionals. In this chapter you will be introduced to the concept of mentoring and its practical application.

WHAT IS MENTORING?

Mentoring is the relationship between two people in which there is mutual learning and sharing. A mentor can act as a counselor, tutor, supporter, sponsor, and adviser. A mentor is an experienced ...