4 Important Factors to Consider When Choosing a Mentor
One of the smartest ways to achieve success in any chosen field is to find someone who has recorded a remarkable feat in the same field. This person can provide valuable advice and encouragement as a mentor.
Choosing a mentor is very critical to excelling in any chosen career path. Your mentor must be someone whose life or work you admire and find impressive. You must see the person as a good guide, irrespective of age, title, culture, or looks. When considering a mentor, it is helpful to create a list of two or three potential mentors, which you find inspiring. It is also important to consider a few things to ensure you are on the right track. In this article, we present 4 important factors to consider when choosing a mentor.
Clarity
You should have a clear idea of what you stand to achieve in the relationship. This includes knowing the suitable time and activities involved in reaching the goals of your mentor-mentee relationship. Being specific with your expectations will ensure that you communicate them with your potential mentor, and it would help to guide them through your life goals. Make sure you are explicit enough while stating your expectations to ensure you are on the same page.
Values
Being the fundamental beliefs that guide or motivate our attitudes or actions, your values must align with the person you are looking forward to having as a mentor. Once you find someone with values that are similar to yours, it will surely lead to a better relationship. However, to do this, you must clearly define your values before seeking a mentor. You will learn more from someone whose value matches yours.
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Willingness
This is the quality or state of being prepared to do something. Before considering someone as a mentor, be sure that the person is willing to help. This is because not every successful person is willing to inspire someone with their story or help others to make better decisions. Before asking someone to be your mentor, get to know them a bit. Organize brief outings, where you can pop the little questions bugging you. Learn a bit about them and be sure they are willing to share just how much information you need.
Communication
The ability to understand and show high competence in one’s field is entirely different from being able to communicate a successful journey with others. Many people are very successful in their chosen field but might not be able to effectively convey what they have done to get there.
When considering a mentor, ensure that they can communicate in a manner that is easy for you to understand. You can learn this by observing how they interact with other people. These are important factors to look out for because whatever positive decision you make will help you to attain success in your field.
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