This story appears in the April issue of Utah Business. Subscribe.
Finding a business mentor is a powerful way to impact your growth, but creating a relationship with one might require getting out of your comfort zone. To best capitalize on the time you can get with your busy mentor, two professionals in Utah offer the lessons they’ve learned.
1. Find a mentor who aligns with your interests or expertise.
Dr. Sidni Lloyd-Shorter, president and CEO of Utah Black Chamber, says you first need to understand why you need a mentor and make sure you find someone who aligns with your interests or expertise. From there, it’s all about relationship building.
“Having [a mentor-mentee] relationship helped me understand how to build and care for relationships,” Lloyd-Shorter says. “That’s so important in business. There’s no success without it.”
2. Come to your meetings with an agenda.
Successful leaders make ideal mentors, but those same people are likely short on time. Venture Anyway founder Dale Majors says mentees should make the most of their time with mentors by coming to meetings with goals already in mind. Come to meetings prepared to discuss specific problems or questions, then ask if your mentor is willing to share their perspective with you.
“It’s not a weakness to ask — it’s a strength to realize that other people know things you don’t know,” Majors says. “Everyone is better [than you] at something or knows something you don’t.”
3. Open up.
Lloyd-Shorter says mentees ought to be prepared to do two things: be willing to listen and be willing to learn. Understand that both people will bring something to the table just by being who they are.
“In being a mentor, I have to be vulnerable in some of those moments to help the mentee understand how to move forward,” Lloyd-Shorter says. “If we are extremely rigid and not willing to give or be vulnerable, I don’t think the best outcomes can come out of those relationships.”
4. Be gracious.
Be sure to show appreciation for your mentor’s skills and accomplishments. The discomfort of working with a mentor is well worth the reward of getting the help, Majors says. Lean into the discomfort and know dozens of people would be honored to spend an hour helping you and your business.
“This is free help,” Majors continues. “Most of the great advice I received for my businesses didn’t come from a paid coach or consultant — it was from a mentor who just cared about helping somebody else out. If you don’t ask, you won’t get it.”
5. Ask for introductions to people in their network who could help you.
Never stop networking! Majors suggests using existing connections to identify other professionals who might expand your network and knowledge. Platforms like LinkedIn can help mentees find these mutual connections. Ask for intros when appropriate.