Great mentors share how they think rather than teaching people about what they do. That’s why I recommend future-focused individuals find a mentor in an outside industry. That gives the mentee a chance to learn how a seasoned leader approaches things: the introduction of new services, how they lead stars and manage under-performers, how they plan, how they execute, how they balance staying focused with acting with agility. The impact of that is much greater than hearing war stories from the same company or industry.
This week’s question:
Where will you find a mentor who grows how you think rather than helps what you do? How will you encourage your up-and-comers to find mentors who challenge their abilities as decision-makers not just teach them ways to do things? In what completely different industry will you find a rising star that will benefit from your experience?