Everybody Needs a Mentor - Do You Have One?

{3:54 minutes to read} All of us run into problems and challenges whether in our business or personal lives. Sometimes trying to find answers to those problems is difficult. Deciding which of the many paths in front of you to take or which way to go at a crossroads can be overwhelming. At times, facing important decisions and life challenges can leave you feeling very isolated and alone.

When you find yourself in this situation, it is often very helpful to turn to “an experienced and trusted adviser” – a mentor. If you look back at the history of any successful person, you will find a mentor who helped them achieve what they wanted to achieve.

Your mentor could be anyone:

A friend
A relative
A business colleague
A clergyman
A mastermind group where entrepreneurs help out each other with ideas

Your mentor could actually be someone you don’t know. Today, society has become smart enough to know there is nothing wrong with trying to get help. You can go into your local bookstore or online and find many self-help resources, books, articles, and/or blogs like this one.

You can have different mentors, depending on:

What aspects of your life you want to improve
What goals you want to reach
What problems you need to resolve

Your mentor should be someone with whom you can speak comfortably and whom you trust to help and advise you.

Even if you don’t feel you have any particular challenges at the moment, having a mentor, a trusted friend to talk to, can help you see and avoid the roadblocks to reaching your goals or getting ahead in your career or relationships.

What Makes a Good Mentor?

In her article, Top 10 Qualities of a Good Mentor, Penny Loretto outlines the following:

Willingness to share skills, knowledge, and expertise
Demonstrates a positive attitude and acts as a positive role model
Takes a personal interest in the mentoring relationship
Exhibits enthusiasm in the field
Values ongoing learning and growth in the field
Provides guidance and constructive feedback
Respected by colleagues and employees in all levels of the organization
Sets and meets ongoing personal and professional goals
Values the opinions and initiatives of others
Motivates others by setting a good example

While this is a good starting list, and can provide “food for thought” as to what you are looking for in a mentor, there may be additional qualities that you specifically want or need. Above all, your mentor should be someone who will be honest with you, and tell you what you should hear, which may not necessarily be what you want to hear.

Taking Your Mentor’s Advice

Even though you have found a good mentor that can help and advise you, it is still up to you to act on their advice. You need to do the work and apply your mentor’s suggestions and feedback appropriately to master your challenges and achieve success.

Last but not least, if you find a good mentor, learn and grow with their help and guidance. Then, “pay it forward”, and help someone else learn and grow by becoming a good mentor yourself.