Your Next Mentor Needs These 5 Qualities

Happy Saturday, and welcome to week 9 of The Rise and Grind.

I love seeing new subscribers, and of course, the impact these short thoughts provide for even one person. If you have a friend you think might like this newsletter, please forward it on!

So here we are; looking at mentors and their importance.

Are you tired of wandering aimlessly through your professional life? Do you long for the guidance and wisdom of someone who has already climbed the corporate ladder?

Today's newsletter is all about the top 5 qualities you should look for in a professional mentor. I’m excited about this one, so get ready.

Experience: This one should be obvious, but let’s talk about it anyway. You want a mentor who has been around the block a few times. Someone who has seen it all, done it all, and probably has the t-shirt to prove it. Bonus points if they have a framed photo of themselves shaking hands with Warren Buffet.

Success: Your mentor should have already achieved what you want to achieve for yourself. If they haven't made it to the top of their field, what could they possibly teach you? Ideally, they should be able to regale you with tales of their triumphs while you sit in awe, taking copious notes. They can share the wins, the pain, and the blindspots that you can learn from as you start down the same path.

Connections: A great mentor will have a Rolodex (or, let's be real, a LinkedIn network) full of influential people who can help you advance your career. After all, it's not what you know, it's who you know, right? As your relationship progresses, they’ll be more willing to share your info with their contacts opening up you to more opportunity.

Availability: Your mentor should be available to you whenever you need them, even if it means canceling their golf game with the CEO or skipping their child's high school graduation. Hey, you're the future of the company - they should be honored to sacrifice their personal life for you. Note the sarcasm.

Understand that your mentor has a life, and they can only give you so much time, especially if this is someone giving you time for free. They should be able to carve out some time on a periodic basis to meet with you - make sure you establish this cadence up front. Twice a month coffee, etc.

Compatibility: Last but not least, your mentor should be someone you get along with. Try to establish some common shared interests up front, it’ll make the mentorship more enjoyable and lasting. If you don't share the same taste in artisanal coffee or enjoy discussing the latest trends in gluten-free baking, what's the point?

Last note - it’s important to make yourself the type of person a high quality mentor would want to take on as a mentee. This is probably one of the most overlooked components of engaging a potential mentor. Ask yourself how you can grow and attract the right one.

• Are you teachable?

• Do you listen well?

• Is there any value that you can provide back to your mentor?

• Can you act quickly on the advice that you get from your mentor to show them that they are not wasting their time?

The more your mentor can see the ROI (tangible or in-tangible) of your relationship, the more they’ll be willing to invest in your time together.

Got questions about how to attract a great mentor? Hit reply and I’ll be happy to answer.

Cheers,

Mark