Get a Mentor!

LinkedIn recently ran a campaign prompting it’s users to thank the mentors in their lives – and it got me thinking just how important mentors are! Whether it be in a personal or professional context, there is so much we can learn off those whose footsteps we want to follow and all we really need to do is ask.  In the corporate world there are a significant number of organisations that provide business mentors to help small businesses and managers learn how to be effective in their market or role, but the truth is, a good mentor doesn’t have to be someone recognised by a business organisation, the CEO of a global company or a member of the Forbes 400 – it simply needs to be someone who has attributes you aspire to and want to develop in your own life.

When I look at where I am today, without a mentor to introduce and guide me through the world of agency recruitment, there is no way I would have firstly stuck at it, and secondly, be in the fantastic role I find myself in today. Now that’s mainly because my mentor actually recruited me into this position at CareerJunctionLtd- but more importantly, it’s because I learned how to recruit with morals in an industry where a number simply don’t, while also learning how to stay positive, motivated and innovative. As an intern fresh from university back when I started in recruitment, there were attributes I identified in my mentor that I admired and wanted to add to my own tool belt. Not simply because they would equate to success, but because they would make me a better person. I was fortunate to be able to ask questions and advice, no matter how obvious the answer seems today and that is something that cannot be underestimated.

While for me specifically, my mentor helps to guide me through the early stages of my career, there is never a period in your life where a mentor cannot add value. It doesn’t matter if you are fresh out of university, or a few years off of retirement- if you identify attributes or success in someone that you want to develop in yourself, ask them to mentor you! And to those in a position to mentor others, I say you owe it to the world to pass on what you know and help inspire others. Being a mentor isn’t hard work- it’s simply sharing knowledge. It could even be as basic as having someone watch how you solve problems or deal with situations. At the end of the day, it doesn’t take much effort and you are helping someone become the person they want to be.

It’s often said that having a mentor is greater than a university education and worth more than a decade’s salary – While that sounds far-fetched to begin with, the more you think about it, the truer it rings. Without a mentor, not only would I not be in the role I am in now, but I wouldn’t have the professional or personal skills I have today that enable me to be effective in my role (which in turn results in income). Whatever stage of life you find yourself in, there is never a point where we should stop learning and trying to better ourselves. Identify success or traits in someone you want to develop in yourself and ask that person to mentor you. Chances are, they will be flattered you asked and happy to give back. Why? Because I’m willing to bet they got where they are by leaning on others for advice and inspiration and they will know just how beneficial a mentor can be to someone.

And since I forgot to actually do it on LinkedIn – Thanks Leon for being a great mentor!