Mentorship is all about who has walked ahead of you, and how you can learn from them. It’s about gaining perspective—both strategically and emotionally—that you can’t get on your own. The mentor-mentee relationship is an important one, but how do you get there? What are the first steps to approaching a mentorship relationship?
- Determine if it’s the right time.
Start by asking yourself these questions to explore if you’re in the best place to be a mentee. Are you frustrated with where you stand?
Think about where you are in your life and your career, then ask yourself if you are prepared to end standing still and leap forward! Are you ready to ask for help?
None of us can go it alone. If you’re ready to become a bit vulnerable and let someone support your success, you’re ready to be a mentee. Are you open to receiving feedback?
Mentor-Mentee relationships are about transparency and honesty. You may hear some things that you may not want to hear and you need to be willing to listen to that feedback in order to begin a path of growth. Are you prepared to commit? Ask yourself if you are in it for the long-haul. A mentor-mentee relationship is about taking responsibility, being committed, and showing up.
If you answered “Yes, that’s me!” to these questions, it might be time to start looking for a mentor. - Find the right mentor.
So how do you find a mentor? Instinctively, you probably won’t go to a mentor that doesn’t share characteristics you associate with growth and success, but you still want to keep some things in mind in your search.
Core Values – Do your core values match those of your potential mentor?
Vision – Have they created, and lived, a vision that interests you?
Trust – Is this someone you trust and feel you can open up to about the truth of your life and career? - Make the ask!
Now that you’ve done all the preparation, it’s time for you to make your ask to a potential mentor. This part takes some faith. Come right out and say something like, “I’m really trying to get from here to here. And I thought of you.” If you know your goal, know where you want to be, and are open to having them help you get there, just say it. The answer is always no if you don’t ask.
And there you have it, the first steps on the road to becoming a mentee. Do you have more questions about the best way to take this journey? Reach out to us for a consultation.
