Regardless of where you are in your career or business, you have something to offer and something to learn. Do you reach back and give advice to others who are interested in or new to your industry? Or should you prepare for your next move by seeking the advice of someone that has been there and done that? The answer should be both.
Social media has
made it possible to reach out or be introduced to anyone in the business world.
In just one tweet of 140 characters or less, you can rub social media elbows
with celebrities, millionaires and CEOs. You can join group “hang outs” with
almost anyone. Use these tools to your advantage.
Being
A Mentor
Don’t wait on the mentee to come to you. Actively seek out someone to impart your knowledge to. The person who needs you may not even know it yet.
Where do you find
this person? You can start by asking your friends and family if they know
someone who could benefit from a mentor relationship with you. Your alma mater
or a local college is another great place find potential mentees. LinkedIn
groups, facebook and other niche
communities on social media are great too, and there are even companies and
organizations online specifically for linking mentors and mentees.
If you are
reaching out to a stranger via social media, gain all the information you can
by observing them for a period of time. Check out what they are “liking,” who
they are following and what they are posting. If you decide to move forward to
meeting face to face , you can set boundaries and terms that suit you. For
instance, conversations can take place online only until you are comfortable
divulging your personal contact information.
When you are
ready, approach this person simply and informally. Introduce yourself briefly
and tell them why you would like to mentor them. Give them some background
information about yourself to show the connection between what you can offer
and what they might need.
Put the ball in
their court. Extend the invitation for them to contact you if they have
questions. Ask if it is okay if you check in with them from time to time.
Frankly, some people may want mentorship but also may not feel comfortable
contacting you at first. Your second or third follow-up message may loosen them
up.
Mentor
relationships are built on trust, respect and admiration. Take this
responsibility seriously. It is very important to be realistic and honest about
the time you can dedicate to your mentee. Be available when you say you will
be, and if you need to cancel plans with them, reschedule as soon as possible.
Together, you can decide the frequency, venue and other details of your
follow-up sessions.
One crucial thing
to remember in this relationship is that a great mentor will empower their
mentee to make decisions even if they don’t agree with those decisions. Don’t
use your influence to tell your mentee what to do.
Also keep in mind
that you can mentor someone of any age. Your mentee could be someone embarking
on a new career or business endeavor or re-entering the workforce after an
extended break. Don’t be intimidated by mentoring someone older than you. Your
knowledge is power and power is ageless.
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