The value of a good mentor has been pretty well document. A quick search on google will give you articles such as:
- http://surfcareers.com/blog/10-benefits-of-having-a-mentor/
- http://fortune.com/2015/02/18/6-key-benefits-of-having-a-mentor/
- https://www.thebalance.com/how-can-a-mentor-benefit-your-career-526243
In fact place like HBR are now suggesting that you gather a mastermind group. So the challenge is upped a little further in finding the people. The problem is, I don’t even know where to start.
Let’s list that standard challenges, time, distance and life. We all have them and I’m no different. I commute about 3 hours a day (90 minutes both ways). I have a family and currently a foster dog. Time is certainly at a premium.
I can say there are things I want to achieve and I am working consistently towards them. I certainly actively seek to continue growing at every opportunity.
To be honest, I’m trying to hang on and support my team as best I can. I’m not sure I’m succeeding, but I will get there.
I love the idea of having a mentor. Problematically, I don’t even know how I would help such a person help me or where to find them.
I go to weekly meetup with some great guys who have a real depth of knowledge and they have helped me more than they realise. Likewise this coalition has been a haven for support. I still can’t quite express the gratitude I feel for the space. I share openly here and the input others blesses me greatly.
I am even actively trying to catch up with a friend who moved on from my workplace because I think he is a pretty awesome guy and I really respect his insight and friendship. The relationship though is one of equals though and I wouldn’t threaten that friendship by imposing the mentor/mentee relationship on him.
So I am not without help and support, but I couldn’t nominate any of my network as a mentor specifically. I do have people that I go to (if you are reading this you are amongst them).
A few questions really stand out:
- Do you have a person(s) that you can call a mentor?
- How did you meet them? How did you move into the mentor/mentee relationship?
- Did you specifically seek them out?
- Where the heck do you even begin?
- How do you find space to connect properly and not just “fit them in” and “tick boxes”?
- How do you even know what you want from a mentor relationship and where do you begin defining it?
I admit, I am clueless and appreciate any clues that can be given.