At pivotal junctures in their careers, it’s critical for leaders to seek the advice of an outsider. The perspective that comes from an independent observer is crucial for bringing fresh insight, hard truths, and helpful ideas that can accelerate the development and career trajectory of successful leaders.
Of course, developmental advice and encouragement most often comes through regular performance appraisal conversations with direct managers. It can also be fostered through engagement with a structured leadership development program.
For some leaders, however, what’s needed is a mentor. Unlike a leadership coach or a career adviser, a mentor is someone who takes a longer-term and more holistic view of your development. They are part adviser, part advocate, part critic – and ideally their views, knowledge and connections help you to see yourself in new ways. With new self-insight you can grasp opportunities that would otherwise not have come into view.
If you’re considering working with a mentor, what should you look for? We believe there’s five key attributes good mentors possess.
1. Values
This is a non-negotiable. Your role model as a leader should be somebody who has strong, ethical values which align well with your own. Critically, this should include an unwavering commitment to honesty – telling it like it is and without too much sugar-coating. Truthful insights help you grow.
You might also seek out a mentor with empathy; someone who can imagine themselves in your shoes and can understand the challenges you are facing at an emotional as well as intellectual level.
Finally, a commitment to accountability is a must, as you want a mentor who will keep you accountable for pursuing the actions you discuss together. You need them to be willing to challenge you when you need it, and push you closer to your stretch goals.
2. Knowledge
Your mentor doesn’t need to be someone with a fancy title or enormous resume, but they do need a record of relevant experience in your field. They need some runs on the board. They need some relevant skills and knowledge. They need some connections in the industry.
The calibre of their advice comes from their combination of life experience and professional endeavour. Learning from a mentor’s successes and failures, even though your career journey will be unique, can be incredibly beneficial.
3. Communications
Beyond knowledge, skills, experience, and contacts, you need your mentor to be able to successfully communicate their advice with you. This means seeking out a mentor who is a good listener, someone who can clearly understand your situation, hopes, fears, biases, struggles and aspirations.
Rather than being guarded and protective of their secrets of success, you want a mentor to be willing to share with you in an open and honest way some of their own methods and strategies for leadership success.
4. Diversity
This is perhaps a controversial inclusion on the list, but when we think more deeply about what sparks new insights, creativity and innovation, diversity of thinking is a critical ingredient. New perspectives and ideas generate curiosity in us. They open us up to options we had never considered, alternative directions to investigate, and fresh energy to propel us forward.
Engaging a mentor who is very similar to yourself runs the risk of not pushing you far enough. Because all personal growth comes from being outside your comfort zone, you don’t need a clone of yourself. Ideally, you should seek someone from outside your existing circle who represents a contrast to your own experiences and views.
5. Trust
Finally, there needs to be a level of compatibility and alignment of personality between a mentor and mentee. You need to like and respect each other for the relationship to be mutually beneficial.
There needs to be a trust – not just about the confidentiality of information shared, but a trust that both parties are genuinely looking to help the other achieve growth and success.
If you’re looking to establish a mentoring program at your organisation – or find a mentor yourself – please reach out to us if you need help and advice.
Investing time in the development of others can reap rich mutual rewards, and the gift of a good mentor is one proven way to build brilliant leaders.
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