DEAR TED “Can you recommend a mentoring scheme that I could join?”

Posted on 4th July, 2019

NO!

That’s not a flippant answer, it’s just that schemes in themselves can be quite a slow and cumbersome way forward and often involve a lot of set up and lost time as people develop their confidence in each other after signing lots of waiver and disclaimer forms.  

The main reason to seek out a mentor is to be able to bounce ideas off someone who is not a part of your current team or line management. It is to be able to think issues through (normally around work and career but inevitably home and family play a part) in a confidential space with someone you respect

So the best mentors are often already in your network, they are previous line managers, senior colleagues, tutors etc. Don’t start by asking them to be your mentor as that can sound a bit scary. Instead just ask if you could buy them a coffee/lunch as you would respect their advice on something …. and then see how it works out

Having several mentors, for different circumstances, can also be a good thing :-)

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