#53 | Workshop: The 4 Types of Mentors You Need

This week on CWK we’re talking all things mentorship! Spoiler alert: I’m a firm believer in having mentors. The right ones can change the game for your personal and career development. 

In this mini-workshop, I break down what a mentor actually is, how to find mentors, and the best way to utilize them. Whether you’re a new graduate, a leader looking to level up or a fresh face in your industry, take notes because this session is for you!

What is a Mentor? (05:18)

What do you think of when you hear the word ‘mentor’? I imagine a really old guy at a corporate desk who loves telling the story of how he didn’t use a calculator to do work “back in his day”. Crazy, I know! Haha

The actual definition of mentor is, “an experienced and trusted advisor”. Notice the definition doesn’t include age, status in the workplace, or qualifications in general. Mentors don’t have to ‘fit the mold’. Take my 11-year old niece for example. If anything goes wrong with my iPhone she’s my go-to! I’ve deemed her a mentor because she’s experienced and trusted. Don’t try to fit your mentor(s) into the box you’ve created or you may miss out on an opportunity right in front of you. 

The 4 Mentor Method (12:41)

It’s important to know what a mentor is, but more important to know what kind of mentor they are to you. My foolproof ‘4 Mentor Method’ has been featured in Inc. and Forbes, and is just what you need to discover the best use of the mentors in your life.

1. A mentor who knows your industry and knows you personally. 

• Ex. boss, fellow co-worker, friend or peer in the same field
• Give sound advice because they know your strengths and weaknesses  
• Shares real time feedback because they know your industry 
• Helps you answer questions like, ‘Where should I go next?’ ‘What type of company should I work for?’ ‘How can I think about climbing the corporate ladder?’  

2. A mentor who knows your industry but doesn’t know you. 

• Ex. past client, acquaintance, friend of a friend
• Not someone you’d call crying after a bad day at work like with example #1 
• Gives a holistic view of how to level up in your industry, but is free from bias when it comes to your personality 
• Helps you answer questions like ‘How should I prepare to go after this new job?’

3. A mentor who doesn’t know your industry but knows you personally. 

• Ex. family member, partner, friend
• Doesn’t know the politics of your industry or workplace
• Gives advice solely based on you
• Helps you answer questions like ‘Did I do the right thing?’ ‘Am I overreacting?’ ‘Am I looking at this scenario holistically?’

4. A mentor who doesn’t know your industry and doesn’t know you personally. 

• Ex. a consultant, business coach, career coach, any neutral third party
• Brings in their experience and expertise to evaluate your situation without bias
• * Check references and resources about these people to make sure they’re the best fit for you

Write down the names of those in your life who fit into these categories. Remember your mentor doesn’t have to be someone you know, they can give advice and inspo from afar.

Advocate vs Mentor (29:06)

As you identify your mentors I want to make sure you don’t confuse them with your advocates. Differentiate the two by remembering the definitions. Compare the definition of a mentor to that of an advocate – a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy. 

This may be someone in a senior position at your company, organization, or team that supports or promotes you and gives you insider info on how things are really done in your industry. For example, at my old corporate job my advocate let me sit in on important meetings or phone calls and when a more senior role became available she pushed for me to be promoted. 

For clarity, mentors help you answer questions like, ‘I want to make more money, what are some approaches I should take?’. While an advocate can help you answer, ‘Based on my current role and responsibilities I believe I am eligible for a raise, how have you seen this done in the past here?’

Big Mentor Mistakes (36:40)

The two big mentor mistakes I see time after time are:

1. Confusing mentors and advocates – Remember the tips to differentiate the two and treat them accordingly. 
2. Not asking for homework – Don’t let the mentoring stop at the end of the conversation. Ask for homework so your learning can continue, do the homework, and report back with your results!

My Homework To You (42:15)

1. If you love these mini-workshops, I know you’ll enjoy my learning courses. 
2. I offer live learning which are real time sessions on video call with me, and leisure learning which are pre-recorded courses you can do at your own pace and at any time you’d like.
3. Be sure to share with me which you’re most interested in and what your greatest takeaways from this session were. 

Next Week

Selena Rezvani is the perfect guest to follow this workshop. This week I mentioned advocates but you know who’s actually your biggest advocate in the workplace? It’s you. Selena has helped thousands of people (specifically women) learn how to advocate for themselves in the workplace in a way that’s polite but direct. If it’s a struggle for you to raise your hand or nominate yourself at work this is for you. Bring a friend, bring your struggles and questions, this is going to be a great one.

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Want To Learn 1 on 1 with Me?: I’m passionate about making YOU stand out at work. After a 45 minute training, Avery (aka my newest shining star) implemented my tactics and got a new job making $60k MORE than the last. Want some of that secret sauce for yourself? Check out more here. 

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