Mentors matter The wrong vs. right way to find yours

Mentors make all the difference in your career. From the outset of post-grad to especially when you are pursuing leadership and advancement roles, mentors are essential components to success. Everyone agrees they are important and everyone tells you that you need to find one now. And yet, most likely everything you have ever been told or taught about finding and securing a mentor is wrong. Dead wrong, counterproductive, and a waste of your time and energy. Some fundamental truths about mentors Before we get into the how of finding and securing mentors we need to understand and manage our expectations of what exactly a mentor’s role is in our professional journeys and be realistic. Mentors are not your parents nor are they your best friends. They are not responsible for the entire trajectory of your career nor are they in control of your well-being and state of mind. Only you can control that. Some other fundamentals that we need to keep in mind: Mentors find you, not the other way around. Mentors come into your life when they are least expected but often most needed. They gravitate to you for any number of reasons but primarily this occurs when there is a connection to what you and they are passionate about. Mentors are not life coaches. Mentors have careers and lives of their own, respect their time and energy. They can steer you in new directions and/or provide key insights and support for one or two aspects of your professional development and growth, at most, not a map for your entire professional life. Forced Mentorship doesn’t work. Most organizational mentorship programs often fail because they are forced, don’t consider the natural behavioral patterns that occur between people and typically have limited impact long-term. Avoid these programs like the plague, they are ineffective suck the life out of you and don’t work. 1st rule: Stop doing this Don’t ever go up to someone you’ve recently met and ask them to be your mentor. In fact, don’t ask anyone on the spot to be your mentor. It is awkward and won’t serve the ultimate purpose of engaging someone in your professional life. You would think this would go without saying but I have witnessed this countless times at various professional events as well as been approached myself and it is just bad form when it comes to building a relationship with someone. Instead, if there is someone you admire and want to engage for advice reach out in a non-threatening way via email and ask if you can take them to coffee (30 minutes of their time) to learn more about their perspective on a particular issue that you know they are passionate about and that you also have interest in. From there you can organically share your story and solicit advice but here again, this is just an invitation for them to offer advice and counsel, not a forced relationship whereby they feel obligated for the whole of your professional life. Three essential steps to securing your mentor: STEP I – Look Inward, Assess Your Strengths, Find Define Your Calling To find a great mentor you need to look inward first and foremost. This may sound counterintuitive but it is essential to securing mentors throughout your career. You need to also have a good sense of your strengths and I highly recommend taking the Strengths test 2.0. It will give you your top 5 strengths (there is also a version for entrepreneurs) as well as verbiage to help you describe those strengths when you are promoting yourself. It is also vital that you find and define your calling. If you don’t have a clear idea of what your professional calling is or at a minimum a solid understanding of your strengths combined with what you are most passionate about you won’t be able to attract mentors that will serve your long-term career goals. Step II Develop a powerful POV, then share it People aren’t inspired or drawn to someone who is just on the hunt for their next job opportunity. People are moved and motivated by ideas, stories, purpose and powerful points of view (POV). By people who think differently and want to make a difference. A point of view is something that you have spent time thinking deeply about and have done your homework on if someone challenges you. Most importantly, a distinct point of view is something that others can argue with you about. Strong POVs are memorable, attract others to you and are the cornerstone of any enduring, successful professional brand. Once you have developed a strong point of view share it by publishing it as a post online, debating with close friends/colleagues and/or as part of a speaking engagement. The more you put your ideas out into the professional universe the more likely you are to connect with and have mentors gravitate towards you to support your efforts. Step III Be a mentor to others cultivate a growth mindset Regardless of where you are in your career, the best way to naturally attract mentors to your efforts is to find ways of mentoring yourself. Find ways of being a mentor and being of service in the areas you are most passionate about professionally. When I look back at the mentors who have come into my life it has been because they observed that I was mentoring others who were junior to me or struggling with a project. It was also because they saw in me a growth mindset where it wasn’t just about me and the advancement of my career but about service to a greater cause, a higher purpose. There were also numerous occasions where I was introduced to incredible mentors because I volunteered without an expectation of pay or promotion for a project or effort so I could learn and be challenged. I have continually demonstrated this growth mindset throughout my career and have been rewarded with countless mentors that I could have never anticipated coming into my professional journey. Bottom Line People like being around others who are constantly learning, growing and serving others. People also like helping others who know who they are, have an idea of where they want to go, and are relentless in their pursuit of that goal. Start with these fundamentals and the mentors will come. Hult offers a range of highly skills-focused and employability-driven business school programs including a range of MBA options and a comprehensive one year Masters in International Business. To find out more, take a look at our blog Why going to business school in 2019 is a resolution you should keep. Download a brochure or get in touch today to find out how Hult can help you to learn about the business world, the future, and yourself. Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021 Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021"> During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . Happy New Year, Hultians! . Happy New Year, Hultians! .