Blog: How to Find a Mentor: What to Look For and How to Ask

Your Aha! Life

Summary

In this conversation, Tonya Harris Cornileus, Ph.D., discusses the significance of mentorship, especially during National Mentoring Month. She shares her personal experiences with mentors and emphasizes the transformative power of these relationships. The discussion covers how to find a mentor, what qualities to look for, how to approach potential mentors and the importance of being a proactive mentee. Tonya encourages listeners to reflect on their needs and take actionable steps toward establishing meaningful mentoring relationships to support their personal and professional growth.

Keywords

mentorship, finding a mentor, mentoring relationship, personal growth, career development, professional guidance, mentee, mentor qualities, mentorship benefits, mentoring process

Takeaways

• Mentorship can be life-changing at any stage of life.
• A mentor should align with your values and goals.
• Building a relationship with a potential mentor is crucial.
• Be specific when asking someone to be your mentor.
• Meaningful conversations deepen the mentoring relationship.
• A great mentee prepares and takes action on advice.
• Respect your mentor's time and be focused in meetings.
• Vulnerability fosters trust in the mentoring relationship.
• Giving back to your mentor enriches the experience for both.
• Finding a mentor is a proactive step toward growth.

Sound Bites

"Finding the right mentor is worth the effort."

"Mentorship is a relationship, not a transaction."

"Finding a mentor may feel intimidating at first."

Chapters

00:00 The Importance of Mentorship

04:09 Finding the Right Mentor

04:52 When to Engage a Mentor

05:58 What to Look for in a Great Mentor

06:54 How to Approach and Ask Someone to be Your Mentor

08:57 Question to Ask a Mentor

10:30 How to Be a Great Mentee

13:48 Call to Action

Thank you for listening to Your Aha! Life - The Podcast, where I share insightful stories through the podcast and my audio blogs. Please take a moment to subscribe and hit the notifications button so you'll be notified anytime I drop a new episode. Also, leave a review and share this episode with someone you know who would benefit from hearing it. To learn more about Your Aha! Life and join the global community: go to my website at yourahalife.com. You can also follow me on Instagram @tonya.yourahalife.