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Mentoring is one of the best ways to learn, to get feedback, and
to take your career to the next level. Here are ten tips for
making the most of your mentoring relationships.
Tip #1 Self-assess. Ask yourself, "What skills do I need to get
where I want to go?"
Tip #2 Identify your learning goals. Put them in writing.
Tip #3 Decide together how the mentoring relationship will work
- frequency and type of contact.
Tip #4 Commit the time. Don’t give up if the chemistry doesn’t
feel right at the first meeting. Meet a minimum of once per
month. Touch base regularly - by e-mail, phone, in person.
Tip #5 Take time to build trust and communication. Get to know
each other on a personal level. Discuss your backgrounds,
interests, career histories, and perspectives of your
organizations.
Tip #6 Keep confidences. Nothing kills trust in a mentoring
relationship faster than a breach of confidence.
Tip #7 Be sensitive to cultural and gender differences. Do a
little homework. And listen.
Tip #8 Understand and plan for the phases of a mentoring
relationship. Build in time for evaluation and closure.
Tip #9 This is about learning, whether you’re a protégé or a
mentor. Keep a journal.
Tip #10 You don’t need a single mentor who you keep throughout
your career. What you need is a mind-set that allows you to
learn from those around you, no matter who they are. To get
ahead, create your own multitalented “board of advisors”
Judith Lindenberger MBA has a distinguished career in human
resources consulting and is recognized for her innovation and
excellence. The Lindenberger Group, LLC provides
results-oriented human resources consulting, organization
development, customized training workshops and personal career
training to help individuals and organizations improve their
productivity and performance. The Lindenberger Group is a
two-time recipient of The Athena Award for Excellence in
Mentoring. Contact them at 609.730.1049 or
info@lindenbergergroup.com or www.lindenbergergroup.com
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