Comments on: 7 steps to finding and keeping a mentor

By: Why Having Good Leaders Makes a Difference « just the GISt of it

Why Having Good Leaders Makes a Difference « just the GISt of it — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 02:05:52 +0000

[...] mentoring program, you’re not out of luck. Just do what I did. Take it upon yourself to find a mentor. Look for someone who inspires you and shares your career goals; don’t pick someone just [...]

By: The Mentor Challenge | {Tinkering}

The Mentor Challenge | {Tinkering} — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:15:54 +0000

[...] plenty of smart advice out there about how to be a good mentee. (Here's some, and here's more.) I think I'll do pretty well. The hard part, of course, is getting up [...]

By: Nnanna

Nnanna — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 08:24:19 +0000

Many thanks Penny.
its super illuminating.
Nnanna, from nigeria!

By: WriterType » Blog Archive » 4 Ways to beat writer’s block for good

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 11:23:01 +0000

[...] on a regular basis. Find a writer, or writing teacher you admire in your area. Ask them to mentor you. Get together once a week. Treat your mentor to coffee for their time, and ask them to help you [...]

By: Five Sure Ways to Get A Raise « Shawn’s World of Information

Five Sure Ways to Get A Raise « Shawn’s World of Information — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 07:25:04 +0000

[...] Unfortunately, for some people finding a mentor is almost as difficult as asking for a raise. So here are seven ways to find and keep a mentor. [...]

By: Mukesh Nauhwar

Mukesh Nauhwar — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 09:40:21 +0000

Hey,

Thanks for the article. It's quite interesting to read what you've written about having a mentor in work life but do you think without a mentor things wouldnt work out for an individual or would it be still workable but difficult?
I'm one of those individuals who never had a mentor but thankfully doing well in my career. Though I realize that I'm a mentor to a lot of people in my life but just wondering what am I losing if I dont have one?

Thanks in advance…

* * * * * * *

Mukesh, I'm surprised that if you are mentoring someone else, and adding value to their career, that it would not be clear to you that you also could have a mentor adding value to your own career. If you are meeting all your goals right now, then your goals for yourself are too low. If you are not meeting all your goals, then find a mentor to help you.

A good book to read to understand the sadness and futility of trying to navigate this world with no help from others is Never Eat Alone, by Keith Ferrazzi.

–Penelope

By: Miriam Bolanos

Miriam Bolanos — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 04:52:49 +0000

Hi, Thank you for your informative information, I have put some of your suggestions to practice and have found the results very rewarding. I would like to add that when your boss is having a stressful day and they all do, Just stop and take a quick break to breath in some fresh air, this can be done by a simple walk to the bathroom or the coffee pot. The point is take a brain break to gather your thoughts and refocus. Remember your boss is human after all. I say something supportive on the way out of my bosses office.

By: dog

dog — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 05:01:28 +0000

Hi Penelope,
DO you think it is appropriate to attempt to find a mentor in the place you work (in the same professional field)? Wouldn't there be a "conflict of interest" with that potential mentor?

* * * * * *

Finding a mentor in one's own office is totally appropriate. It is in everyone's best interest if people you work with are getting the help they need to be their best selves and perform at their best capacity at the office. The person you directly report to is already responsible for your performance, so in order to expand the scope of the help you're getting, look for a mentor who you don't report to.

–Penelope

By: Penelope Trunk

Penelope Trunk — Thu, 17 Aug 2006 05:11:40 +0000

Jasmine, congratulations on taking that first step, which, of course, is always the hardest. It sounds like she is very open to helping you.

The phone call is a good time for you to have a very specific agenda, by the way. So that your potential mentor can feel right away that she has something to offer you.

And, on the off-chance that this doesn't turn out well, you should feel great about reaching out to someone to mentor you. Not all mentors are great, but all efforts to get a mentor are positive steps.

By: Jasmine

Jasmine — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 08:44:23 +0000

Hi Penelope, just want to share with you on my recent experience related to mentoring. I got to know a person who works for my organization in another location. Through a couple of interations in meetings and individual conversations I found her to be very people oriented and experienced specifically in the organization we belong to. One month ago I wrote an email expressing wish to be a protegee of her. I thought the email was written appropriately but got no return for more than one month. It was exactly when I was thinking I probably did something stupid I got a note from her which was very positive and offering. We are going to have phone conversation next week.. I'm yet to see how this turns out but the article you wrote here does trigger thinking on how we could proactively manage good mentoring relationships. So thanks to you and will keep you updated on my real life efforts:-).