A professional mentor can be a lot of different things to a lot of different people.
For some people, a mentor is a paid professional with a formal contract. For others, it may be less formal but still some form of a paid professional. For me, my mentor is a friend and professional colleague. He is somebody whom I respect and admire, somebody who has accomplished a lot in life both personally and professionally, and finally he is someone that I thoroughly enjoy talking with.
Most importantly, my mentor, Mike*, is honest with me and gives me a reality check like when I come up with new ideas or try something different. He also helps me see the big picture in terms of what I want to accomplish. Mike gives me an outsider’s perspective and reminds me it is okay to take it easy and recharge (or that it’s time to get back to work!)
Your mentor doesn’t have to be any of those things but should be someone who feels safe enough to be {brutally} honest with you. A mentor is someone who can see the forest through the trees. And helps you do the same. Someone who tells you what you need to hear. Not what you want to hear.
I encourage professionals to find a mentor. The time and cost you spend with your mentor will reap bountiful rewards.
I encourage professionals to find a mentor. The time and cost you spend with your mentor will reap bountiful rewards.
