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I'm on the bottom
rung of a company I really like, and am almost at the one
year mark. I'm looking for a mentor - someone who can offer guidance and
lead me along. Some of the higher-ups I've talked to don't seem to receptive, while others don't seem to
"click" with me. Any suggestions?
- Dave in San Diego
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I tend to get this type of question a lot from
people just starting out in their careers. And, while I can ask questions
of my clients, I don't know a whole lot about your situation. I didn't
see where you mentioned your education or previous experience in your
chosen field. Nor did I read anything about how you were going about
obtaining a mentor, nor why you and your potential mentors (PM) didn't
"click."
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Having said
that, there are a few solid chunks of advice you can follow:
Jedi or Sith?
If you aren't "clicking" with a PM, determine if they would lead
you down the path you want or not. Obi Wan had run ins with the Jedi
Council, just as you will likely sometimes take issue with your PM. But Ben
knew Yoda, despite their disagreements, would lead him down the right path;
that Yoda could help him.
Old or Young Ben?
Interview your PM's for the job. You are, in effect, hiring your mentor -
so you want to make sure you pick the right one. The younger version of Obi
Wan was, as Yoda pointed out, ill-suited to mentor the
boy-who-would-be-Vader. When Ben got older, he was the perfect mentor for
Luke, however.
To See a Jedi, Go Where the Jedis Are. You're looking for a mentor:
someone with more experience, a businessperson and/or executive. They
usually hang out with others just like themselves, which is at certain
Clubs like Rotary, Toastmasters, or Lions Clubs. You will likely find a
wealth of qualified mentors both in and out of your field at these
organizations.
Stay off the Death Star, Dave. And may the Force be with you.
IN THE CARAVAN:
Look toward Star Wars as a metaphor for finding a mentor.
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bSafari.c
The Lion’s Pride: Q & A
