How to Seek Out Mentorship

Mentorship has an origin dating back to 800 BCE. This culture has a rich history. And, if you fast forward to the 1980s, studies have shown that people who have mentors are more likely to do well in school, earn more than their peers at work, get promotions quickly, and are better suited to perform at the highest level. According to Prof. Terri A. Scandura, “71% of the US Fortune 500 companies offer mentorship to their employees.” Another study published by Sun Microsystems, a tech company in California, asserted that mentorship produces “employees that are more highly valued” by many organizations. This is to say that mentorship is one of the “three components of learning processes” you can utilize to improve your personal and professional development. However, it's worth noting that there isn't a rule that says one has to have a mentor before one succeeds in life. Still, the bottom line is that mentorship advantages cannot be overemphasized.

Before we delve into this important topic, let's define mentorship. In a simple term, mentorship could be a formal or informal relationship between a mentor and his protegés. A mentor is someone who has, arguably, more than five to ten years of experience in a particular field. We can also say that mentors are individuals who are willing to lead, guide, and improve the career prospects of their protegés. On the other hand, protegés are groups of people whose careers are shaped by mentors. Mistakenly, many people are misconstruing the meaning of “mentorship” and “sponsorship.” Therefore, it's pertinent to know that there is a distinct difference between the two connotations: mentorship is a formal or informal interaction as described above; while sponsorship is monetary support you get from someone or group to achieve a specific goal.

Most importantly, you're expected to forge a long-lasting relationship with your mentor. This is one of the most challenging aspects regarding mentor-mentee interaction. Experts say that the best way is to start it simply. Make it easy for the mentor to guide you. Respect and appreciate their efforts. Be sincerely committed to achieving your goals with them. Similarly, respecting their time won't only make you achieve your goals within the specified period but also cement a warm spirit of camaraderie between the two of you.

During this relationship, you are expected to ask thought-provoking questions. Naturally, people are more tending to ask inappropriate or irrelevant questions. In a relationship like this, you are expected to ask what matters the most. In doing so, make sure you are communicating your thoughts compellingly. Moreover, written goals and needs before you start your meetings are highly encouraged. It's crucial to keep in mind that your mentors are not under any obligation to answer all your questions. Therefore, there are things you should let them be because you don't pay for them. 

 

Moving on, how to find a good mentor is yet another difficult part of this journey. It's normal to find yourself in such a situation because it has happened to me. First and foremost, have a clear understanding of what you want to be mentored about. This means that before you reach out to your potential mentor you have to thoroughly research the person in question. You have to have a clear understanding of what values he holds and his availability. Most often, people ignore this basic step, and the reason is that you may be hooked up with the wrong person. In other words, your relationship would end up on the opposite side of the road.

Consequently, when you finally find your ideal mentor. You have to be polite and formal in your request. Don't just send a short and weird request like, "Would you be my mentor?" Again, you are not expected to write five or ten paragraphs requesting someone to be your mentor. Thus, you are to write to your potential mentor succinctly. For example, you can introduce yourself, and explain why the person is ideal for you. Explain what you are bringing to the table. This will help you get approval quickly. So as long as you seek out mentorship it would only get better and better over time. Most importantly, you should never be afraid to seek out mentorship. Because mentorship is one of the most sought-after programs in the 21st century. 

As said earlier in this article, the advantages of mentorship cannot be overemphasized. Specifically, a mentor can help you find opportunities that you may have no access to. Mentors can help you by sharing relevant information and potentially connecting you with the right cause of action. Furthermore, mentorship will nurture you to be the best person you hope to be. Hence, this relationship can single-handedly broaden your worldview. It will change your old ways of doing things. Hence, with a good mentor, you're more likely to achieve whatever you set out to discover.

While debatable, just because you like someone doesn't mean that person can be your mentor. It's like a relationship between a man and a woman, you have to find the right woman before you marry her. Thus, mentorship works exactly. You have to find the right person who is willing to guide you. And they don't have to be from high offices or big corporations. As long as the person is willing and more experienced, and you share a common set of values that person can be your guide. 

Again, you should not expect your mentors to be constructive in their criticism all the time. We are humans and bound to misjudge. Your mentors may always seek a note in a bulrush and always say whatever comes out of their mouth. If your relationship has always been this way, I suggest you quickly find a solution. But, too often, mentors rant at their mentees when they fail to do their homework over and over again. So when you do the right thing, you can reap a billion-dollar knowledge. Show your mentors that you are a value-driven asset. Usually, they choose to mentor people who have the burning sensation to achieve great things. 

Ultimately, I want to encourage you to go out there and seek out mentorship. It's your responsibility to ensure that you live the type of life you want to live. Be open-minded. Keep learning. Be less egocentric. What are you waiting for?