What is a Mentor & Why You Need One

Throughout my entrepreneurial career, I’ve built, lead and advised organizations.  Now, more than ever, I am asked to provide mentorship for entrepreneurs and leaders.  While it seems that the idea of mentorship has never been more popular, the concept dates back to the Ancient Greeks. In fact, the word mentor was inspired by the character Mentor in Homer’s Odyssey. But what does mentorship mean in today’s world? Exactly, what is a mentor, and how can one help you with your personal and professional career goals? Let’s explore the idea of how mentorship is relevant in our lives today.

Internal and External Mentors

Everyone knows that having a mentor can be a big boost for your career. Indeed, many forward-thinking companies have mentoring programs in place for employees with high-performance potential. To be sure, having a mentor within your organization can be very beneficial, helping you to navigate the myriad intricacies of the organizational structure. But it is also advantageous to look for a mentor outside of your organization. While an in-house mentor can help you advance in your company, an outside mentor may be better able to help you advance in your profession, whether as an employee or an entrepreneur.

Your Mentor Search

So, who should you look for as an outside mentor? You may want to look broadly for someone in your industry. Or, you may want to focus more narrowly at someone who shares your profession. Which way you go will depend on your specific professional situation, your needs, and your goals.

Once you’ve decided the type of mentor you want, then comes the process of finding one. So, where do you look?

One option is to consider joining a professional or industry association. This is often the best place to find a mentor. As you attend meetings and/or conferences, pay attention to the names that keep popping up. Chances are there will be a few that come up with some frequency. These are the influencers who you should target. You may also find mentors among people with whom you share common outside interests. Think of all the amazing conversations that have taken place during a round of golf!

Benefits of a Mentor

As you can imagine, there are numerous benefits to having a mentor. Not only do they offer advice about your career, but they are often well-connected and able to introduce you to even more people within your profession or industry. Thus, they are able to help you expand your network.  As an entrepreneur, it can be lonely at the top.  A mentor who has done what you are working towards is a great sounding board for ideas but also for staying focused, keeping your morale up and to celebrate with you each time you get a win.

Always remember, though, that a mentoring relationship is a two-way street. If you’re continually asking what they think of something and you then don’t follow through, they will assume that you’re not serious and you will have given up a potentially beneficial relationship. If you ask for guidance from your mentor, be ready to take their advice. Because, what is a mentor for if not to offer sound counsel?