If you are in a position to help others who aspire to the same success that you have enjoyed, you should be working with them as a mentor. As I've said before–it's karma–you need to make the future easier for those around you, based on your learnings from the past.
Here are some of the traits of the best mentors:
As you rise in your career, you will find that people will
approach you and ask you to be their mentors. In some cases, this ask might be formal, perhaps through a
corporate matching program or as part of a paid relationship, and in other
cases it may be more informal, with someone just approaching you and asking you
for ongoing “mentoring” or “guidance”.
What does a great mentor look like?
- Has already succeeded in the areas of interest
to the mentor - Genuinely wants to help and cares about the
mentoree’s future success - Responds promptly to requests from mentoree
- Gives honest and succinct feedback when
requested - Avoids unsolicited feedback
- Is clear about what topics are “fair game” for
mentoring advice - Treats mentoring calls and meetings with the
same respect as any other communication - Is not a therapist or a sounding board
- Expects and demands succinct, clear
communication from mentoree.
Rambling is not OK! - Continues to seek his or her own mentoring in other areas
Most importantly, remember that a mentor needs to be someone that is worthy of respect. As you become more successful, more people will be watching (and potentially emulating) your behavior, which puts more pressure on you to "do the right thing".
