105: How to Find a Mentor

105: How to Find a Mentor

In Greek mythology, Mentor was a friend of Odysseus and was placed in charge of his son Telemachus when Odysseus left for war.

Merriam-Webster’s dictionary calls a mentor, “A trusted counselor or guide.”

What do you want to get from mentoring?

  • Probably what you aren’t good at (or at least not yet)
  • Plus, it’s something that’s important for you to get better at

Advance planning

  • Who do you know who’s good at that?
  • Are there multiple people?
  • You don’t have to know them today
  • Your greatest mentors will never expect anything
  • Identify specifically how someone can help and begin there
  • Make a mind map of the people who could help
  • Create a board of directors

Getting Started

  • Start off with a specific question
  • Know that not everyone will respond or won’t be willing to help
  • Wait on asking someone to “be a mentor”
    • Everyone has a different context for this
    • It could seem like a huge commitment
    • It’s awkward if they don’t want to make that committment

Find a way to connect regularly

  • This is where proximity and formal programs can help
  • Make a point to connect regularly
  • It’s great to be influenced by those that you don’t speak with regularly, but find people you will see

Be willing to ask for help

  • Get out of the “asking for help is a weakness” mentality

What’s something in front of you right now that a new perspective would be helpful with? My challenge to you is to go out and identify a person and approach them with a specific question and ask advice. Remember, you don’t have to take the advice. If they don’t respond, identify a second person.

Past shows that might also be helpful to you on the topic of mentoring:

Discover More

Activate your free membership for full access to the entire library of interviews since 2011, searchable by topic.

Jaksot(783)

767: Being Nice May Not Be Kind, with Graham Allcott

767: Being Nice May Not Be Kind, with Graham Allcott

Graham Allcott: KIND Graham Allcott is an author, speaker, entrepreneur, and the founder of Think Productive, a leading provider of training and consultancy. He is the author of multiple books, includ...

26 Tammi 37min

766: Using AI to Make Networking Easier, with Ruth Gotian

766: Using AI to Make Networking Easier, with Ruth Gotian

Ruth Gotian: Networking in the Age of AI Ruth Gotian is the former Chief Learning Officer and Associate Professor of Education in Anaesthesiology at Weill Cornell Medicine. Thinkers50 has ranked her t...

19 Tammi 39min

765: How to See What’s Holding You Back, with Marty Dubin

765: How to See What’s Holding You Back, with Marty Dubin

Marty Dubin: Blindspotting Martin Dubin is a clinical psychologist, serial entrepreneur, business coach, and adviser to C-suite executives and Silicon Valley entrepreneurs. He has founded several comp...

12 Tammi 36min

764: Stop Solving Your Team’s Problems, with Elizabeth Lotardo

764: Stop Solving Your Team’s Problems, with Elizabeth Lotardo

Elizabeth Lotardo: Stop Solving Your Team’s Problems for Them Elizabeth Lotardo is a consultant, writer, and online instructor who helps organizations drive emotional engagement. Elizabeth writes for ...

5 Tammi 30min

763: Leading with Poise When the Stakes are High, with Eileen Collins

763: Leading with Poise When the Stakes are High, with Eileen Collins

Eileen Collins: Through the Glass Ceiling to the Stars Colonel Eileen M. Collins, USAF (retired), earned a place in history as the first American woman to pilot, and later to command, a space mission....

15 Joulu 202539min

762: Show Up Better, Faster, with Claude Silver

762: Show Up Better, Faster, with Claude Silver

Claude Silver: Be Yourself at Work Claude Silver is on a mission to revolutionize leadership, talent, and workplace culture. She is Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX and partners with CEO Gary Vaynerchuk...

8 Joulu 202537min

Listener Survey Results

Listener Survey Results

Dave shares the results of the 2025 listener survey and previews what’s next for Coaching for Leaders. If you’re not already getting the weekly update and wish to receive Dave’s forthcoming FocusFive ...

4 Joulu 202525min

761: Notice Disruption and Innovate Through It, with Steve Blank

761: Notice Disruption and Innovate Through It, with Steve Blank

Steve Blank: Blind to Disruption Steve Blank is an Adjunct Professor at Stanford and co-founder of the Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation. Credited with launching the Lean Startup mo...

1 Joulu 202535min

Suosittua kategoriassa Liike-elämä ja talous

sijotuskasti
mimmit-sijoittaa
rss-rahapodi
psykopodiaa-podcast
herrasmieshakkerit
ostan-asuntoja-podcast
hyva-paha-johtaminen
rss-rahamania
rss-lahtijat
rss-doulapodi
rss-sisalto-kuntoon
rss-tarkeista-asioista-2
rss-paasipodi
rss-sami-miettinen-neuvottelija
rahapuhetta
rss-muutoksenanatomiaa-podcast
rss-rentotapaus
rss-uppoava-vn-laiva
rss-bisnesta-bebeja
rss-ammattipodcast