How To Find a Mentor and Why it's Easier Than You Think
Why would someone want to spend time mentoring me? I’m not senior enough to have a mentor. It’s difficult to find a mentor. My network isn’t big enough or even worse, I’m going to have to network at stuffy events just to build potential mentoring relationships.
If you’re guilty of harbouring any of these thoughts, you’re not alone. Most people feel intimidated even just considering having a mentor. But we’re here to tell you it doesn’t have to be this way!
Mentorship is an invaluable tool for personal and professional growth and it’s actually more accessible than most people believe. Here’s why finding a mentor is easier thank you think:
You don’t need to network till you drop
One of the biggest misconceptions about finding a mentor is that it requires extensive networking and connections. While networking can be a helpful tool, it's not the only way to find a mentor. And these days, you don’t necessarily have to leave your front door to do it!
There are so many local clubs, groups, events that you can sign up to. All they take is a quick Google search. If these events pique your interest, it’s likely you’ll find like-minded people there who may already be where you aspire to be. And if you don’t fancy that, you can simply reach out to people on LinkedIn you think could be a good fit and set up a Zoom call or in person coffee. People are much more likely to respond than you think.
People actually want to help you
Believe it or not, lots of people actually want to help you. That’s right! People often underestimate how eager others are to share their knowledge and help others grow.
Many individuals are passionate about sharing their knowledge and experience, they usually have a desire to give back to their community and help others achieve their goals. Leave your skeptic nature at the door, yes, there are still lots of good people out there.
It’s a two way relationship - you are adding value too
Don’t ever think that just because you’re the mentee, you have nothing to give. This is not true at all. Mentorship is a mutually beneficial relationship. While the mentee receives valuable knowledge and experience from the mentor, the mentor gains not only personal and professional fulfilment from helping others, they may also gain fresh perspective from the mentee with different industry experience, or a different generational outlook. Don’t underestimate your value add. It’s very likely you’re teaching them things too.
So now we’ve confirmed your suspicion, leave your skeptic hat at the door and get googling. What are you waiting for!