There are many tools that will help us keep up with technology and even advance our career. These have differing values. However, finding mentors is often at the top of the list of high-value options. While there can be a lot of time and money spent on finding a mentor, that is not the only way. There are plenty of potential mentors already in your life.
Co-Workers and Professional Associates
The best place to look for a mentor is among the people you already have a regular relationship with. That means your current team and associates is where to start first. There may be potential mentors that have decades more experience than you, but others may fit as well or better. Remember that the key to gaining value from a mentor is in the background they can share. We all have different experiences. Therefore, age and longevity are not the only traits to look for in a mentor.
Chemistry Matters
Pure experience and knowledge are essential in a good mentor. Nevertheless, chemistry and how you relate are nearly as important. We have all had that teacher or professor that appears to know something inside and out. Unfortunately, they are still unable to pass that knowledge on. A mentor falls into that same area of requirements. Knowing is not enough. There also must be an ability to communicate and help others learn. That means that we must be able to connect with our mentor and understand what they share with us.
Finding mentors is not just an exercise in finding a teacher. The best mentors have a desire to help and invest in the mentees rather than just pass on knowledge. Thus, a mentor is also a friend of some sort and one you can rely on. That is where some of these paid relationships fall apart. A mentor relationship is better when it transcends a simple business transaction.
Tough Love
While a mentor should be a friend of sorts, they need to be real friends. You should feel uncomfortable at times with a mentor. This discomfort is not due to personal conflict but is instead due to them pushing you outside of your comfort zone. We cannot grow without stepping out of our comfortable areas. That is where a good mentor brings some of the best value. They push us in a way that helps us grow without burying us in frustration.
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