Comments on: 7 steps to finding and keeping a mentor http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/11/09/7-steps-to-finding-and-keeping-a-mentor/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Sun, 20 Jul 2008 22:09:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Five Sure Ways to Get A Raise « Shawn’s World of Information http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/11/09/7-steps-to-finding-and-keeping-a-mentor/#comment-149924 Five Sure Ways to Get A Raise « Shawn’s World of Information Sun, 06 Jul 2008 07:25:04 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/11/09/7-steps-to-finding-and-keeping-a-mentor/#comment-149924 [...] 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. [...] […] 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: Jakob http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/11/09/7-steps-to-finding-and-keeping-a-mentor/#comment-105233 Jakob Tue, 31 Jul 2007 12:28:56 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/11/09/7-steps-to-finding-and-keeping-a-mentor/#comment-105233 This is exactly what I expected to find out after reading the title o.us poetry. Thanks for informative article This is exactly what I expected to find out after reading the title o.us poetry. Thanks for informative article

]]> By: Mukesh Nauhwar http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/11/09/7-steps-to-finding-and-keeping-a-mentor/#comment-56915 Mukesh Nauhwar Sat, 14 Apr 2007 09:40:21 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/11/09/7-steps-to-finding-and-keeping-a-mentor/#comment-56915 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... * * * * * * * <I>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</I> 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 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/11/09/7-steps-to-finding-and-keeping-a-mentor/#comment-56358 Miriam Bolanos Fri, 13 Apr 2007 04:52:49 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/11/09/7-steps-to-finding-and-keeping-a-mentor/#comment-56358 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. 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 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/11/09/7-steps-to-finding-and-keeping-a-mentor/#comment-53173 dog Fri, 06 Apr 2007 05:01:28 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/11/09/7-steps-to-finding-and-keeping-a-mentor/#comment-53173 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? * * * * * * <I>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</i> 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 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/11/09/7-steps-to-finding-and-keeping-a-mentor/#comment-648 Penelope Trunk Thu, 17 Aug 2006 05:11:40 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/11/09/7-steps-to-finding-and-keeping-a-mentor/#comment-648 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. 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 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/11/09/7-steps-to-finding-and-keeping-a-mentor/#comment-647 Jasmine Wed, 16 Aug 2006 08:44:23 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/11/09/7-steps-to-finding-and-keeping-a-mentor/#comment-647 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:-). 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:-).

]]>