A few thoughts on finding the right mentor for you:
- Find the highest level mentor you can find. For instance, if you’re currently a director who wants to make VP, find an SVP, EVP, or C-level executive. They will have valuable insights on the entire process: becoming a VP, being a VP, maximizing your skills while a VP.
- Find a mentor who has already achieved what you want to achieve. You’re looking for someone who has firsthand knowledge of what it takes to achieve your goal. Someone who has lived and breathed it. Someone who knows what it takes to overcome the inevitable roadblocks you’ll encounter.
- Be specific on what help you’re looking for. If you’re approaching someone to be your mentor, chances are other people are approaching this same person. Make sure you can describe exactly what you need so they can say yes to you.
- Be realistic about the mentor’s availability. Ask humbly about how much time a mentor can spend with you. Depending on who it is, you might only get 30 minutes, once a quarter. Very successful people do want to give their time to help others. They’re just really busy.
- Be realistic about your own time. Finding a mentor will take time. Working with a mentor will take even more time (and effort and resources and focus). You’ll want to be extraordinarily well-prepared for each mentor meeting. Make sure you have the time for this sort of commitment.
- Know your personal brand. Let a potential mentor know what’s unique about you, your worldview, your capabilities. If they see something special in you, they’re more likely to say yes.
- Tell the mentor why you’re approaching them. Why this person? Tell them what you admire about them, traits they have that you want to have, actions you’ve seen them take that you want to emulate.
Every one of these strategies can help you find the right person to help you achieve your aspirations. All the best teaming up with a mentor!
