Ways to Get Mentorship Without Formal Programs

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

Stop wasting time asking people to mentor you. Try the Micro Mentorship Method instead. Not long ago, I wrote this to a new “mentor:” Subject: “Future Mentorship” Email: “How do you feel about 30 more minutes of mentorship toward the end of Q1? You truly have a lot of wisdom to share, and I'm always happy to talk shop about what I'm learning too.” I heard nothing back. I was crushed because I thought we’d had a decent initial virtual meeting. Did he not like me? Was he rolling his eyes at me? What went wrong? What went wrong was, “30 more minutes of mentorship” is vague. People are busy; they want to know EXACTLY how they can help and what SPECIFICS you need. When your request is too macro, it’s easy to deprioritize it. Use the Micro Mentorship Method to land that follow-up meeting. Here are three examples of Micro Mentorship requests. ✅ Could I grab 15 minutes to get your feedback on 5 slides I’ve created? I’m trying to influence my boss to put me up for promotion. ✅ Is it possible to introduce me to X? I’m interested in joining the marketing team one day, and I’d love to ask them about their career path? ✅ Are you open to giving me feedback on these 3 partners I’m considering working with? I believe you’ve worked with them before, and you could fast-track my decision. Can I email you the names for your quick take? Micro Mentorship works. I never heard back from that person above after I sent my original email. Five months later, I followed up with a request similar to this last one, and he got back to me within an hour. Mentorship can be such an important part of career growth. You need people ahead of you in their career to coach you in ways your manager can’t. This doesn't change that game. It just changes your positioning. It’s still mentorship; it’s just mentorship with a clear request and suggestion of how they can help. That’s often easier for a busy person to say yes to. If this was helpful, consider resharing ♻️ with your network, and follow me Jenny Wood for more actionable tips to thrive professionally.

Mentorship is a game-changer for growth, but let’s face it: directly asking someone to be your mentor can feel... overwhelming. Here's my advice: DON'T ask. Instead, try this ⬇️ 💡 "𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘪𝘯 [𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘢]. 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘐 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘣 20 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 [𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵]?" Why does this work? You're showing respect for their time and expertise without adding the pressure of another "job." It’s a win-win! 🙌 🔥 Key Tips to Build Real Connections:  ✅ Be clear and specific about what you want to learn. ✅ Keep your request short and focused. ✅ Create an environment where they know, like, and trust you. ✨ A personal story: I once introduced a Nobel Prize winner to an astronaut (yes, really 🚀✨)—two incredible minds who hadn’t yet crossed paths. Today, they’re collaborating on big ideas because they connected in an environment of trust and mutual respect. 🚀 Here’s the takeaway: You don’t need to be a Nobel laureate or an astronaut to make meaningful connections. Your unique strengths are enough to add value and build authentic relationships. Ready to level up your mentorship game? Start small, start focused, and watch the magic happen! 🌟