By Kim Otterstetter
Faculty Member, Management at American Public University
We all evolve. Most of us don’t want to stay where we are, professionally or personally, forever. We want to develop and grow and sometimes it takes a large amount of encouragement and guidance.
It is interesting to contemplate how the people you’ve met have helped to shape your life. We often look back and think about the “if’s” — If I didn’t work here I could have done this or if I didn’t go there I wouldn’t have done that. It can be even more productive to think about the people you meet who contribute to shaping your life. They are your mentors.
We have to play an active role in developing ourselves to reach our full potential. We all know leaders who are accomplished professionals yet still take on other roles. What is it that pushes them to aspire to be more when they are already successful? Often it is a mentor, either formal or informal, that is helping to guide them.
When we find someone who is excited about who they are and is motivating us to become who we want to be, what do we do?
I have three tips for making the most of your relationship with a mentor:
- Ask about your mentor’s personal story. This is a great place to connect your vision to his or her accomplishments and create your own brand. Learn from the mistakes made and understand what challenges lie ahead.
- Get help categorizing your strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes we think we know our strengths and weaknesses, while an outsider might have a different view. Your mentor might be able to identify areas for improvement.
- Meet your mentor’s network. Develop yourself by asking your mentor to introduce you to people he or she thinks you should know.
Mentoring can help you to evolve and to develop your personal brand. A mentor can help you understand what you want and the path to get there.
About the Author
Kim Otterstetter is a full time faculty member for American Public University System. She also consults in Human Resources for a variety of companies. She currently lives in Michigan with her husband and 2 children.
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