How to Find a Mentor and Why You Need One
As you, the high achievers in the world, progress in life, you’ll find that friends and colleagues tend to fall away. The higher you rise, the lonelier life can become – it’s lonely at the top as they say. Your friends and family may not have experienced the challenges you’re now facing and therefore, can’t relate to your new woes. It’s at this time you may be wondering how to find a mentor, and considering what a mentor will bring to your life and career.
Why You Might Need a Mentor
There are many reasons someone might be drawn to seeking out a coach or mentor. From my years as a Human Resources Consultant, I witnessed many technically competent people who were promoted into management roles. So many became overwhelmed by the expectation that they learn a whole new skill set almost overnight. Leadership is a skill, just like anything else. While you can learn it through trial and error, it’s a whole lot easier and quicker if somebody is there to teach you.
What Does a Good Mentor Do?
The right mentor or coach can assist by helping you identify the skills you need, working with you to develop a plan to acquire them. They will also be a sounding board for problems you’re facing and can help you develop a strong and positive mindset that matches your professional level.
A trained and certified coach will ask you powerful questions. These questions will challenge your perspective and help you see all the options freely. Sessions will help you gain clarity and confidence in decision making. They’ll be driven by what is happening in your world at the time, ranging from personal to work and everything in between. Clients often say that they feel lighter after mentoring sessions, less stressed and more focussed.
Some other reasons you might look for a coach:
- You’re overwhelmed
- You feel as though you are floating through life without purpose or direction
- You’ve reached a certain level of success and plateaued
- You have experienced rapid growth and need structure to keep it up
- To identify opportunities for personal or career growth
- For support and reassurance – clarity, perspective, confidence, & focus
- You want to make a significant change in any aspect of your life
How to Find a Mentor or Coach
Identifying that you could use some support is the first step, but how do you go about finding the right coach or mentor for you? Here are three questions to ask yourself while you’re searching for the right mentor or coach. The answers will guide you through how to find a mentor and shed light on whether you truly need one.
What Do You Want To Achieve?
Firstly, get clear on what outcomes you want to achieve by engaging a mentor. This will help guide you to the most appropriate people. Be aware that you may need more than one mentor, or different mentors for different stages as you progress. This is completely normal as every coach or mentor will have a different background and breadth of experience.
Once you know what you want to achieve make sure that the person you choose can help you achieve those objectives. A good professional coach will not want to take on a client if they don’t feel they can genuinely assist them.
Do You Want a Mentor or a Coach?
A certified coach does not have to have direct experience in your specific field. In saying this, you do want them to have enough relevant life and business experience to be able to properly support you. A mentor can sometimes be an unpaid role provided by a person who has the exact experience you are now gaining. Be sure to identify which one is best for you and your goals.
If you choose a coach, ask them what certification and qualifications they have. It’s an unregulated industry and you should ensure that the person has a specific coaching certification (ideally ICF – International Coaching Federation – accredited). Ask them how they feel their experience relates to the issues you would like support with.
Do You Feel Comfortable With Your Mentor Or Coach?
Make sure you feel comfortable in conversation with them. This is crucial as this is a relationship that requires honesty and transparency to be truly successful. If you don’t feel comfortable with your coach or mentor, you’re likely not going to open up to them. You may not even trust their expertise, making your sessions a waste of your and their time.
How To Find a Mentor in Seconds.
If you’re ready to take the first step and meet with a mentor, feel free to book in for a Free Consultation.
