I'm part of a Startup Chicks here in Atlanta. Six months ago "startup chick" was never a title I would have assigned to myself, but being part of the ever-evolving team at The Iron Yard has encouraged me to embrace the mindset. Every month a refreshing group of women gathers for breakfast, coffee, and inspiring conversation. Seriously, every time we meet I am challenged to think critically about how I approach my work and my life. It's an amazing thing.
October's session on mentoring was led by Nikki Nixon, Marketing Technologist extraordinaire for a startup called SalesLoft. The term "mentor" seems to get tossed around a lot, and Nikki put some specific parameters on it that helped me wrap my head around the concept better. Plus, it got me hungry for a mentor!
First and foremost, an important element of the relationship is transparency and accountability, on the part of both parties.
Nikki suggested seven qualities that she looked for in a mentor. Someone who is:
Already successful
Brutally honest
Trustworthy
Comfortable with transparency
Willing to make the time to help
Positive
In her network
If you don't have a network, you should create one! Believe it or not, online tools liked LinkedIn and Twitter can be great ways to connect to people in your field who you respect. You can use them to identify people who you already consider informal mentors. It's also important to consider people who have a different perspective from you!
When you reach out to someone, be specific and know what you want to accomplish. Have a plan in mind for working with your mentor, but keep in mind that the plan could change.
Be selective in choosing your mentor. Don't just choose a mentor for the sake of having a mentor. Make sure they have your best interests in mind as well.
As you're considering a mentorship relationship, examine the situation through the lens of "What do I have to lose?" 9 times out of 10, you have less to lose than you think you do.
Do you have a mentor? What are your tips for a successful mentoring relationship?
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