There’s not just one type of mentor
Clients often ask me “what is a mentor” and “who should I ask to be my mentor”. A recent article by Be Leaderly touches on just this predicament. Cate Huston from Be Leaderly describes 5 different types of mentors you should considering including the benefits and “watch outs” for each.
Peer Mentor: A peer mentor is someone who’s at your same level or place in life. Peer mentors can provide you with a new perspective and help you broaden your network. However, peer mentors may not always have the experience needed to give you good advice.
Role Models: These mentors are one or two levels above you in their roles and will help inspire you by modeling where you want to be in the short-term. Role models are better able to spot trends and are able to share experiential insights. It is important to consider that role models don’t have a lot of time so be concise, help manage scheduling and remember that “not all advice is right for you”.
Oracles: This is an amazing person that you wish you could become someday but don’t really ever expect to. Oracles can provide you with big picture career advice, open doors for you and spot long-term trends in your stories. However, Oracles are busy and popular so be to the point and thoughtful about the time you spend together. Don’t abuse the oracle either by asking for too many favors.
Specialists: You can have several mentors who are considered specialists. These are people who will help you develop skills in specific areas of expertise (public speaking, finance, leadership). Specialists can give you in-depth development in a specific area and expose you to a fresh perspective. However, watch out and ensure you’re really learning from an expert and not a self-proclaimed guru. It is also important that this person is a good fit for you and understands your field at a high level.
Sponsors: These mentors act as advocates for you. They help you get projects and opportunities. Sponsors can make a huge impact on your career. However, internal sponsors can spark resentment from your peers. It is important to remember that unlike other types of mentors, you want to bring sponsors your achievements not your problems.
