Getting the most from a Mentor?

[DanInSyd]

Morning team.

For some background, I am currently a middle manager for a large construction firm, in the contracts/legal space. I’m playing my trade, learning and absorbing everything I can and making the right connections so that some day soon I can set up my own consultancy business. This is a work in progress behind the scenes, and I spend my spare time working on this and making sure I have all the necessary tools, connections and skills ready for when I hit the go button.

As part my yearly goals etc within the business, I asked to go on the Employee Development programme, which includes some structured training over 2 days (which was very useful) and I have the fortunate opportunity to have been assigned a Mentor within my business unit for a few months.

I am excited about this, as the Mentor I chose is a regionally recognised leader in my field, and I am keen to make the most of our interactions over the next few months, and use what I learn to improve my knowledge and plans for my own business.

I have a whole list of questions to ask, which I will space out over this period, but I wondered if anyone had tips on how to maximise my time and get the most out of it?

There have been some posts on this site by key people, (mentors themselves) which I have read making sure that the experience isn’t a one way street, with all take and no give. Despite a bit of an ‘obligation’ on this person by the business, and the fact we work in slightly different areas of the business, I am keen to understand how I can assist to make sure I’m not all take take take.

Does anyone else have some pointers for me?

Thanks in advance.
Dan

 

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[Rawseed]

Here are two great videos on mentors and questions:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVo1aZCyfO4

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALMg-7-2trY


Also, I would suggest that you brainstorm some ways that you think you might be able to help the mentor instead of asking them how you can help them.

 

[Tiago]

Take some time and really ponder if the questions you have written out are any good.

I'm a coach, making 6 figures, and want to go to 7 figures. I've been talking with coaches who earn 7 figures to see what it takes to grow a business to that level.

Whenever I have a question, I write it down, and think really hard if that's the question that will create the result I want.

Sometimes I even go for a walk, to let it simmer a bit. See what it is that you really, really want and create a question designed for that.

Also be aware if your mentor has exactly what you want, in terms of size of business, knowledge, ethics, mindset, etc... Because all the advice he gives you can be worthless to you if the direction he's pointing you towards is not the direction you want to go.

But of course, be completely open to what he has to say even if it doesn't match your beliefs, because it's always valuable to learn from a different perspective.