Why YOU Need a Mentor.

No, I’m not talking about an unplanned work chat with a more tenured peer while passing in Starbucks.  I’m not talking about a one-time sit down with your boss to discuss last month’s project or this week’s performance.  I am talking about reaching out to a person, inside or outside of your company, who you respect and find their insight valuable.  This means reaching out and asking this person to mentor you either bi-weekly, monthly, bi-monthly as your coach.

Here is why YOU need a Mentor:

1. Undivided Focus on You. How often do you have someone sitting down listening about YOU and only YOU?  It’s not a vent session to your boyfriend about a tough week or a difficult boss.  It’s a strategic conversation with constructive criticism and improvement with time.
2. Unbiased Opinion.  Typically, your mentor doesn’t sit next to you every day and your mentor does not know your boss.  Your mentor has their own improvement plan and will provide you with an outside perspective you will NOT get from your Mom, Dad, girlfriend, or coworker.  The “aha” moment you need to to make changes and grow.
3. Personal and Profession Goals.  When else are you verbalizing where you want to go and how you are going to get there?  Goals in your head are OK, goals on paper are excellent, but communicating your goals out loud is the BEST!
4. Long Lasting Relationships. The beautiful thing about a mentor is that they become part of your life and coach you through various stages of your career.  You may change titles and companies 3 times but the mentor you choose has knowledge and skills that will translate into any career move.
5. Future Opportunities.  Just today I had a mentor reach out to me about a “possible opportunity” for one of his clients.  Your mentor has a vested interest in you and understands your strenghts.  This means YOU are front of mind when your mentor has an opporutnity arise where you could benefit.

I have seen and experienced so much personal and professional growth from building relationships with my mentors.  I encourage you to THINK about someone you have met over the course of your career who you admire and respect.  Please reach out to this person for a one-on-one sit down and simply ask for thier direction.  People feel good about helping people and before you know it, YOU will be the one mentoring others.