Finding a business mentor can advance your career

There are numerous benefits to having a mentor in the workplace. Having a mentor can provide mentees with:

• Help in goal setting
• Invaluable advice and guidance based on experience
• A safe space to ask questions
• Access to a broader, more seasoned network. This access can turn into real career opportunities.
• A feeling of support and connection
• Increased engagement with their work

The first thing to know about finding a mentor is that it’s never too early in your career to do it.

Brittany, who manages Fidelity’s internal career center, says, “Fundamentally, seeking out a business mentor is about learning and growing. If you’re in a space where you’re open to learning and growing, developing that meaningful relationship out of the gate can be extremely beneficial.”

Signs you’re ready to work with a mentor:

• You’re curious about other roles, and you’re eager to learn and grow
• You have clear goals that you want to achieve
• You feel stuck and want to gain clarity on your next career move
• You want to avoid common career pitfalls

Make sure you’re ready

One caution before jumping into a mentor/mentee relationship is to be sure you have the time to commit to developing the relationship.

Be honest about whether you have the bandwidth to meet on a regular basis with a mentor. As the mentee, you need to be the driving force in the relationship. Brittany says, “One of the most important things we should bear in mind, too, for mentorship is to be the person that is prioritizing this relationship.”

Once you’re ready to work with a mentor, where do you start? Brittany advises looking for someone you genuinely want to learn from and whose values align with yours. Ideally, your mentor is someone whose behavior and accomplishments you’d like to emulate.

Typically, a mentor will have more work experience and be higher up in the workforce. Mentors who work within your company are easiest to access logistically. You can, though, find a mentor outside of your company. You just have to be more proactive about meeting regularly.

If you’re not sure who would be a good mentor for you, ask around. Your immediate boss, human resources, and your coworkers can offer suggestions.

Many people are hesitant to approach potential mentors. They don’t want to impose or bother the other person. Don’t let fear hold you back.

Go for a small request at first. Ask the person you’ve identified as a potential mentor if they’d be willing to meet with you to explore the possibility of mentorship. Try this:

“I’m interested in finding a mentor, and I’m trying to learn more about it. Could I meet with you sometime to hear your thoughts on the topic?”

Don’t feel like you have to go with the first person you ask either. When you approach someone, you’re simply asking to have a conversation.

Just like any other relationship, successful mentor relationships require work.

According to Brittany, first and foremost is “allowing space to build trust and be vulnerable.”

Your mentor is in your corner. It’s okay to open up about your struggles and insecurities. Great mentors don’t put themselves on a pedestal. They share their challenges as well.

Other ways to create a successful mentor relationship:

• Meet consistently. At each meeting, make sure you schedule your next meeting. Otherwise, you’ll lose time messaging one another trying to find a common time.
• Have a plan. Think about areas that you want to explore together with your mentor. When you schedule your next meeting, decide on a loose agenda for it. As the meeting approaches, you may add to it or change it completely.
• Record action items. One of the benefits of having a mentor is you have someone who can hold you accountable for what you say you’re going to do.
• Take notes. When your mentor drops some wisdom, be sure to record these nuggets of advice.
• Relax. Meeting with your mentor doesn’t always have to be focused on goals. Sometimes, it’s a quick chat over coffee that lifts your spirits.

Sometimes people are hesitant to work with a mentor because they worry about wasting other people’s time. They worry that they’ll be a burden to their mentor. You can rest easy on this. Although the mentorship dynamic primarily benefits the mentee, mentors gain a lot of positive things, too.

Being a mentor gives mentors a chance to:

• Grow their leadership skills
• Help someone, which increases their own well being
• Contribute to the company culture in a positive way
• Learn another perspective about the work of the company
• Share their wisdom with someone who wants to learn

Brittany says that one of the hallmarks of a successful mentor relationship is when the tables flip in the relationship. “Once your mentor/mentee relationship has really flourished, you will observe that your mentor comes to you for advice as well. They value your perspective. They want to hear what you think about something.”

Having a mentor in your corner can fast-track your career and help you avoid common career pitfalls. If you have the time to invest in a mentor relationship, start now. You’ll be glad you did.