Have you got a mentor? If you haven't and you're looking to get ahead in your organisation, you should strongly consider it as it can open many doors and introduce you to influential executives at the corporate top table.
I went in search of a few answers with Dr. Cindy Wahler, who has worked with many leading companies to help them implement a range of corporate leadership programmes.
"The key is selecting someone who you establish great chemistry with and is invested in your success," says Dr. Wahler.
How do I go about finding/choosing the right person?
It is dependent upon the skill set that you require. For example, if you excel at execution and your next role is to help your organisation grow through acquisition or perhaps anticipate market trends, then you might want to align with a mentor who has strategic or big picture skills. Or if you now need to influence through stakeholdering, I would recommend you seek out a mentor who excels at partnering and collaboration.
Should they be from another discipline to mine?
It certainly is advantageous as you gain a fresh lens and different perspective. Particularly if you can find someone who has had a number of roles, then they have a wealth of expertise and can help map out your career aspirations.
Do they have to be from inside my organisation?Not necessarily, if the mentor is a highly regarded with a track record of excellence, then that can be of great value. I would though recommend that they are from your industry so they can identify with both the challenges and opportunities.
How should the mentor approach the process?
The mentee should drive the process. Explore their achievements, areas they hope mentoring will address and discuss their overall career aspirations. Determine if you are comfortable and discuss time lines frequency and mutual accountabilities.
Mentoring must do's – Cindy's top 3 tips
1) Articulate your specific goals
2) Develop an action plan to address each goal
3) Measure your success to demonstrate the ROI of mentoring.
You can find out more about Cindy and her work at www.cindywahler.com. She also writes extensively and is a regular contributor to Forbes.com.
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