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Hi all,

I am new to the forum - please accept my apologies if this is covered elsewhere (I did a search but couldn't find anything specifically on this).

I am looking for a mentor, and would really like a Manager-Tools-educated mentor (of course!). Would it be acceptable to place an 'advert' here?

Feedback gratefully received.

Tamsin

WillDuke's picture
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Did you check out the mentoring podcast?

Tamtam10000's picture

Hi Will,

Yes, I did listen to the mentoring cast a couple of weeks ago. Did you have a certain part of it in mind that would be of benefit to me?

I would like to use the forum as an opportunity to find a mentor because I'm in a start up company (I only have 1 senior colleague), and really want to engage in a mentoring relationship the 'Manager-Tools way', so this seemed like the natural place to look.

Tamsin

WillDuke's picture
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I guess the part I had in mind was asking someone you knew and trusted. Don't get me wrong, there are some great people here in the MT forums. But unless you've been around for a while reading their stuff, and sharing some of your own, it would be hard to recognize a good match.

Without each person knowing the other, it's a crap shoot for whether or not you'll be a good fit for each other.

Tamtam10000's picture

Thanks for the nudge - I remember that part of the cast, although I'm not sure how best to apply it to me.

I have been thinking about entering in to a mentoring relationship for some time, and I heard a speaker recently suggest that a mentor should be someone who does what you want to do, in the way you want to do it. This made a lot of sense to me.

My situation is that I am a new manager in a start-up organisation (I only have 1 senior colleague), and the industry is relatively new to me too. So I can't look within my own organisation and I know few people in the industry.

I went to the London MT meetup and was very pleasantly suprised (although I shouldn't have been) at how easy everyone there was to talk with, and as I want to start my management career the MT-way it seemed like a natural fit.

Given that background, if you have any further suggestions I'd be very happy to hear them.

Tamsin

jhack's picture

Consider asking one of the folks you met in London....

You could also join a professional organization (like toastmasters, or your alumni association). These have value of their own, and you might find a mentor.

John

WillDuke's picture
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I think the MT group is a great group to pull from. I just think you need to spend some time with them and get to know them. Then ask the right person.

Basically, I'd start with networking. Listen to the networking cast and get yourself out there. In addition to John's suggestions, I would suggest joining a community service club. Community service organizations are always looking for new energized members. Find one that aligns with your personal beliefs and join it. There are usually plenty of old farts in these clubs that would take a "youngster" under their wing. You'll not only find a mentor, but you might satisfy a passion while helping out your fellow man. What a great win.

Tamtam10000's picture

John & Will,

Those are great ideas. Thank you.

I particularly appreciate the reminder regarding networking. I used to be a very active networker in my previous industry, but have let that slide lately, and I'm starting to see it as a mistake on my part. Back to the networking cast for me!

It would be beneficial in any case to join an industry-specific association, so I'm going to do some research on that too.

I will also see who I meet through the London MTers group. The right person might just be there already. :)

tam

ramiska's picture

Even without having the Mentor relationship with someone here, the Forum will always give sage advice.

Tamtam10000's picture

That's very true, and a fact that I am appreciating already. :)

Tamsin