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Oprah and Bill Gates have mentors. Do you?

March 14th, 2011
By Kaitlin Madden in Co-workers, Networking, The right job
43 Comments

There’s a simple secret to the success of some of history’s most accomplished people. They’ve had incredible mentors.

Bill Gates has one in Warren Buffet. Oprah Winfrey has one in Maya Angelou. Yves Saint Laurent had one in Christian Dior. Aristotle had one in Plato, who had one in Socrates — and the list goes on.

Yet mentorship, while consistently cited by leaders as one of the most beneficial “get ahead” tools for the working world, also seems to be one of the most under-utilized, both by individuals and the companies they work for. According to a recent survey by consulting firm Accenture, fewer than one-third of those polled (32 percent of women and 31 percent of men) reported having a formal or informal mentor, and only one-in-five respondents said that their company had a formal mentoring program in place.

Additionally, when asked what tactics they’d previously used to move their careers forward, only 19 percent of workers said they’d used mentoring as an advancement strategy. In comparison, 59 percent had sought additional training or education, 55 percent had taken on additional responsibility at work, 37 percent had asked for a raise or promotion, and 30 percent had used networking to get ahead.

The relatively small number of workers with mentors is especially surprising considering the list of benefits to be gained from these relationships. According to the survey results, the following were the most common perks cited by those in a mentorship:

Mentor provided guidance and advice — 81 percent
Mentor helped plan career moves — 45 percent
Mentor acted as a sounding board — 43 percent
Mentor publicly supported/endorsed mentee for a promotion — 32 percent

Think you could use a business mentor, but not sure how to find one? Here are a few things to keep in mind as you set out on your search:

1. “Mentors” and “role models” are different: It’s great to have people that you can look up to in your career, but these role models are different than formal mentors. “Professionally, there is room for formal mentoring relationships and role models,” says Dave Sanford, an executive vice president at staffing firm Winter, Wyman. “[But] I think mentoring is more of an active process — there is open communication, you can share personal information and not feel judged or fearful of jeopardizing your career. With a role model, it’s more that a person is leading by example. They demonstrate ways to do things and ways to behave. A role model might not even know they are being viewed as such; it’s more of passive process.”

2. Don’t choose your boss: Your boss can serve as an excellent role model in your career, but be wary of entering into a “formal” mentoring relationship with your direct supervisor. “It may feel like your boss is too close professionally to serve as a supportive mentor,” Sanford says. “For example, if your boss had to press you for performance improvement; sometimes it can get muddy and that may create reluctance. While a mentor needs to understand who you are and what you do professionally, chances are, they are a few steps removed from your day-to-day work, enabling their feedback and advice to be clean and unbiased. Mentors can come at things from a unique and very helpful vantage point.”

Additionally, you should be able to be candid with your mentor about your desired career path and your goals. Doing so with your boss could create a direct conflict of interest when you’re ready to move on from your current position.

3. Look for someone in your field: A great mentor will be able to provide you with advice and guidance when it comes to your career. A really great mentor will also be able to introduce you to other valuable connections in your industry. Choosing someone who is not just a great leader, but a great leader in your industry will provide these extra networking benefits.

4. Test the waters: Have someone in mind but not sure if they’re interested in being a mentor? Test the waters by telling the person that you value his or her opinion, and ask if they’d mind giving you advice about a career predicament you’re having. If the person is eager to help, he or she will likely be open to the idea of becoming a mentor.

5. Don’t be afraid to ask: “With the demands of the workplace, you will likely need to ask someone to serve as a mentor as they may not have the time or inclination to suggest it themselves,” Sanford says.

While the fear of rejection might make you nervous, chances are, your risk will be worth it. “Professionals are usually very open to mentoring — it’s a great compliment as it shows that you respect the person and value his or her opinion and way of doing things. More than likely, they will accept and feel pleased to have been asked,” he says.

If they do happen to decline, don’t take it personally. “The reasons are most likely due to not having the time to properly devote to the mentoring role,” Sanford says. Keep searching until you find someone who does.

About Kaitlin Madden

Kaitlin Madden is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder. She spends her time at work thinking and writing about work, and thus views her workday as one big social experiment. Prior to joining CareerBuilder, she was a freelance writer and spent some time working in fashion in New York City. She hates meetings and honors her love of shoes with a large collection under her desk. Kaitlin hails from Connecticut and graduated from Northeastern University in Boston with a degree in journalism.

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Kirk Baumann

Kaitlin,

This is a great article. Finding the right mentor is crucial to a person's success. I like that you mentioned not to pick your boss. The most beneficial mentor will most likely be one from a different field or industry. Approach this as a learning opportunity and be ready to give back more than you receive. Some people call it "reverse mentorship" - in other words, you're providing the mentoring opportunity to the veteran employee.

Great advice! Here's an article I wrote that I think you'll find relevant. I'd appreciate your feedback!

The Importance of Finding a Mentor: http://bit.ly/findingamentor

Keep up the great work.

Kirk Baumann@kbaumann
www.campus-to-career.com

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Oprah and Bill Gates have mentors. Do you?

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