Let me guess, you are considering mentorship to help you with your career growth, specifically to secure a leadership position. You know you are a busy person who doesn’t have time and energy to experiment with the self-help path. But you don’t know where to look for a mentor.
If that sounds like you, stick around, as I will tell you exactly how to find a leadership mentor. I have shared two mentorship approaches, ensuring you can choose the right one according to your goals and situation.
Where to find a leadership mentor
There are two primary options to find leadership mentorship. The first one: Get a senior to mentor you; this is usually unpaid. The second option is to work with a professional leadership mentor.
There are two ways to find a senior mentor:
- Your company circle: This includes your managers, leaders, executives and seniors within your company.
- Your external network: This includes seniors you know (an executive from a past company) and people you can connect with through networking events, LinkedIn, and industry groups.
You can find a professional leadership mentor through searching online, or you might find one through networking events or LinkedIn.
Difference between a professional and a senior leadership mentor:
No matter what type of mentorship you choose, the mentor will guide you and help you achieve your goals. Neither mentorship type is better than the other, but they slightly differ in a few areas.
Investment and effort to secure a mentor
If mentorships or coaching are not officially organised by your company, you’ll have to invest a significant amount of time and energy in securing a senior mentor. The executives and leaders who can mentor are people with packed schedules and cannot entertain every mentorship request they receive.
Finding the right person, reaching out to them, securing a call, fostering the relationship and successfully getting mentored by them requires constant effort.
And that’s only if you’re lucky enough to receive a positive response from the first person you reach out to. If not, then be ready to repeat the process until you hear a yes.
In case of a professional mentor, your efforts are minimal. You only have to find them and learn about them to ensure they are a right fit for you. The main investment will be financial. But it saves you from the crazy chase that makes you feel like you are trying to find a tech job in this economy.
Learning path
Senior mentors usually prefer a casual mode of mentoring where they share their experiences, advices and answer your questions. However, a professional leadership mentor has a precisely structured and well-defined learning route.
They not only share their own experience but of hundreds of others they have mentored along with actionable tips and resources that help you make progress.
How to find a leadership mentor:
Find your potential prospects:
The first step is to find a person who can mentor. In case of a senior mentor, look within your company first. Then search through your previous companies, look out on LinkedIn, and consider your industry seniors.
If you want a professional mentor, a quick search on Google, LinkedIn, and other social platforms will introduce you to the right people.
Tip: Look out for mentors who are in the same industry as you. A leadership mentor that doesn’t specialise in your field can still guide you to your goals. However, a specialist understands the challenges better and help you navigate more effectively.
Research the mentor:
Search your mentor’s name in Google, LinkedIn and every social media platform you know. Get to know them as much as you can.
If they post on LinkedIn, it’s your golden opportunity to learn about their interests and the projects they are working on. This gives you context and helps you decide if they are the right fit for you.
In the case of a professional mentor, they will have some sort of social presence. Go through their content and see if they feel like the right fit.
Get on a coffee call
Once you have identified the person you want to work with, the next step is to have a quick call with them. An initial 150 to 20-minute call will help you get further clarity if the person is right for you.
Discuss your goals and ambitions, ask them about their perspectives, journeys and advice they would give someone in your position. You can gauge from their responses if your values, philosophies and mindsets align.
The process is simple for a professional mentor. They will have some type of quick introductory call. For approaching a senior, you first have to send them a personalised email asking if they can hop on a quick 15-minute call to clear some of your questions.
If they agree, that’s your first win. Besides asking questions, use this call to build a genuine connection with them. Ask them about their day, their interests, share some of yours and nurture the connection to increase your chances of receiving a yes for mentorship.
Start your mentorship journey
If all goes well, you and your leadership mentor will now be starting the mentorship sessions. However, if you reached out to a senior, you will now have to follow up with a thank-you email and ask for mentorship.
The process is difficult, and I recommend this guide from Harvard Business Review to understand it better and increase your chances of securing a mentor.
Your leadership mentor for data professionals
If you belong to the data industry and want a faster route to mentorship, I’ve got you. My mentorship program is specifically designed for data professionals to help them move into leadership roles.
You’ll gain clarity on your leadership path, learn how to navigate common industry challenges, position yourself for the senior roles and build the confidence to lead teams effectively. Learn more about my mentorship program here, and you can catch me on the introductory call.
