Tips for Finding a Mentor in a Specialized Field

The best mentors won't find you, You have to find them. My core values for career development: • Ownership - Taking responsibility for your growth • Courage - Moving through discomfort for what matters • Reciprocity - Creating value, not just taking it What I can't stand is seeing people wait for career opportunities while mistaking passivity for patience. Here's how to ask potential mentors (without feeling awkward): 1/ Be direct about your goals Don't beat around the bush. Tell them exactly what you need. "I was promoted to senior engineer and want to level up my systems architecture skills. Would you be willing to mentor me?" 2/ Tell them why you chose them People appreciate knowing what drew you to them specifically, showing you’ve done your homework. "I'm reaching out because of your experience leading engineering teams at high-growth startups." 3/ Start with a small ask Don't request a long-term commitment right away. "Would you be open to a 30-minute video call to connect?" 4/ Be gracious if rejected Sometimes people don't have bandwidth. That's okay. "I understand you have significant demands on your time." 5/ Ask for alternatives If they decline, their network might be your next opportunity. "Is there anyone you'd recommend I connect with instead?" 6/ Approach with the right mindset Confidence in your goals. Respect for their time. Gratitude for their expertise. I've seen too many careers stall because of fear of rejection. But I promise: The temporary discomfort of reaching out is nothing compared to the permanent pain of career stagnation. Stop waiting for the perfect mentor to appear. Make the first move today. What strategies have worked for you when finding mentors? Image Credit: GraciousQuotes --- Follow me, tap the (🔔) Omar Halabieh for daily Leadership and Career posts.

How do you find a mentor? Last week, I wrote about how essential it has been for me to find mentors in the VC space, and how that was also true during my playing career in the NBA. The advice to find one is simple. Doing the actual finding, though, can be a challenge. So, what are some steps that could work? 1️⃣ Who Do You Already Know? That mentor may not already be in your network, but they’re one, two or three calls or emails away from someone who is. Do you know anyone that’s in the field or on the path you’re looking to forge? Do you know someone who might know someone? Did your cousin’s friend’s former boss start their own company, and that’s what you want to do? Is another former student of your favorite history teacher now a software engineer, and you’re interested in that, too? You’ll have to ask around to find that out (I’m not assuming you know much about your cousin’s friend’s old boss). And you’ll have to cast a wide net. And you’ll have to be willing to put yourself out there. I have been lucky enough to find myself in some incredible rooms with impressive people thanks to my career in the NBA. But that wasn’t the end of it. I had to be willing to put myself out there, to share my interests and questions, to encourage them to see me as more than a hooper, in order to create connections. Which leads us to… 2️⃣ Don’t Be Afraid to Ask It’s not always natural or comfortable to ask for help. But, often, that’s the only way you’re going to get it — and get it in the way that you truly need. So, don’t be afraid to ask that person in your network, or who you know just a little, or that you worked with in the past, if they’d be willing to chat. Don’t be afraid to do some research, identify someone that’s on a path that you find drawn to, and reach out by sending a brief note. You might not hear back. A lot of times, honestly, you won’t. But, eventually, you will hear back. You will find someone that’s eager to offer you what they’ve learned along the way. And when you do… 3️⃣ Nurture the Relationship  Once you find that person, remain engaged. Stay curious. Express gratitude. Figure out a cadence of communication that works for both of you. Consider if there’s anything you can offer them — and, trust me, no matter who that person is or where you’re at, there is; it could be as simple as a warm smile or steadily maintaining eye contact as you listen. When I was an OG for some young bucks in the league, I loved it, because it felt like it kept me youthful, and I was able to connect with a newer generation and learn about their passions. 💡 For those of you who have had mentors, what have been the keys to finding them? 💡 💡 For those of you who have been mentors, what’s been an effective way that your mentee has connected with you? 💡 #linkedinsports #mentorship #venturecapital

I get asked, "How do I find a mentor?" a lot. But the answer is simpler than you think. It's 2 steps: 1. Find a role model 2. Ask You likely have someone you look up to at work. Someone that has traits or skills you wish you had. Go to that person and use this formula: > "Hey <name>, I hope you're doing well. I love it when I have the chance to work with you, and I look up to you and your ability to <skill you want to grow in>. Would you be open to helping me grow there as well?" I've had a 100% success rate by asking slight variations of this across the 15 mentors I've had in my career. Here's a filled-in example: > "Hey Alicia, I hope you're doing well. I love it when I have the chance to work with you, and I look up to you and your ability to write high-quality technical proposals. Would you be open to helping me grow there as well?" Here are a few other tricks to help you: 1. If you're nervous to ask directly, or don't know who to go to, then you can ask your manager for help finding a mentor. 2. Prefer explicit "skill asks" to general, "will you be my mentor" asks. It gives you and your mentor a clear goal. You can transition to a more broad mentorship later. 3. If you're not currently employed, finding a mentor will be a bit more difficult, or costly. But I recommend checking ADPList if you are looking for free mentorship. Again, know what you want help with though. Have these tips worked for you? Do you like the formula and think you can use it? Let me know below!