As we’ve been discussing, mentors and mentees offer a variety of benefits to your career and general happiness. For mentees, the advantages of having a mentor are too good of an opportunity to pass up. So the next logical step is finding and finding your dream mentor. While it may seem like a daunting task, we’ve found some great tips on how to land your dream mentor.
- Identify your prospective mentor
First and foremost, you need to choose who you want as a mentor. This must be someone who inspires you and makes you want to be a better person, be it in your field of interest or in life in general (Eliason, 2014). Therefore, the prospective mentor would ideally be someone successful in their field or the endeavours you would like to emulate. Finding such individuals would require you going to events and conferences on things you’re interested in and actively networking with other professionals. You’ll soon identify numerous people you can learn from.
- Take the initiative
After identifying your prospective mentor, find out as much as you can about them and their work. This can be their books, social media posts or even blogs. This way you can understand them and their perspectives better and in the process see if you would like to work with them. Moreover, be proactive about doing the work and putting yourself front and center (Eliason, 2017). This means scheduling meetings with them: propose the time, place and agenda.
You can go further and identify how you can specifically add value to your mentor’s life or business and propose that service to them; sometimes it can seem like a good idea to ask your prospective mentor how you can help because you think you are making it easier for them. Instead, you’re effectively putting more work on their plates in figuring out what you have you do. The service might be anything from handling their social media platforms, editing videos or even writing posts for their blogs (Eliason, 2017).
- Communication
Communication is key to getting and having a successful relationship with your mentor. It can make or break your relationship because it’s not up to the mentor to have you on your toes. Thus, you have to ensure that you initiate and maintain the communication. Effective communication in this relationship is all about giving first before you ask (Eliason, 2017). Whenever you can, remember to find ways to be helpful to your prospective mentor. This can look like offering insightful comments and replies on their blogs and social media. Having something to offer makes your prospective mentor much more receptive to offering something to you (Eliason, 2017).
- Acquire skills
In order to have something to offer, you first need to develop a marketable skill. This does not necessarily mean trying to become an expert on whatever it is you are interested in. Instead, you can teach yourself a range of marketable skills online or through books and create an inexpensive online portfolio to exhibit them (Eliason, 2017). This way you become really good at a few things that can propel you towards your goal and it also shows your effort to your prospective mentor.
On the other hand, you can join your prospective mentor’s paid programs if they have them. Paying a mentor for one on one coaching can be expensive, so opting for their paid programs can get you the same access to them and their advice without having to learn any marketable skills (TateOlson, 2019). Also, most mentors are open to you reaching out to them because they want you to succeed which gives credibility to their programs in return (TateOlson, 2019).
- Always show up
Going by the old adage, time is money. Most mentors do not want to invest their time in people who do not show up or listen to them. Showing up means you are taking them and the time they invest in you seriously, that you value them and actually want to learn (TateOlson, 2019). Even if it takes a long time for your prospective mentor to talk to you, it’s still imperative that you show up. This means arriving at planned meet ups and doing tasks they’ve given you on time. It might be going to conferences and events they are having, or adding value to their social media posts (TateOlson, 2019). Remember, out of sight out of mind. They are more likely to take you seriously when you put in the effort, showing persistence and dedication.
Also, remember is that the relationship between a mentor and the mentee does not have to be rigid and formal, although it could be depending on the prospective mentor’s personality, but it can also be fluid and adapt to the circumstances; you can be communicating via emails, not necessarily meeting one on one.
Finally, a little known tip – avoid asking your (unpaid) dream mentor to mentor you because you will likely get a ‘No’. This will have nothing to do with your skills but would put your mentor in a position of more work. The goal is having them guide you and offer support for your goals without being overbearing and inconvenient. Follow the tips listed you’ll manage to gain access to some really important people.
Also see:
HOW TO SET UP AN EFFECTIVE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM FOR YOUR BUSINESS
References
Eliason, N. (2014, November 14). How to Get Your Dream Mentor in Seven Easy Steps. Retrieved from https://www.lifehack.org/articles/work/how-get-your-dream-mentor-seven-easy-steps.html
Eliason, N. (2017, June 17). Charlie Hoehn’s 6 Key Tactics for Landing Your Dream Mentor. Retrieved from https://addicted2success.com/success-advice/charlie-hoehns-6-key-tactics-for-landing-your-dream-mentor/amp/
TateOlson. (2019, April 1). 4 Tips To Land Your Dream Mentor. Retrieved from https://futuresharks.com/4-tips-to-land-your-dream-mentor/amp/
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