Building Long-Term Relationships with Mentors

This is Probably the WORST Thing You Can Do with Your Mentor: Following Their Lead. Let me explain: Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to have incredible mentors who shaped my journey. Each of my mentors have added innumerably to my growth and learning, and I’m endlessly thankful to them. However, I’ve also learned a crucial lesson: you won’t get the best out of your mentor if you're not in charge of your own learning & development. You can have the best mentor by your side but if you're unable to discover yourself, you'll never kearn a thing. Here’s the biggest misconception about mentorship: People believe that a mentor's role is solely to lead. While guidance is essential, the best mentors are those who follow the lead of their mentees. Instead of dropping vague gems of wisdom every once in a while, they take time to understand your aspirations and help you reach new heights. Write it down and never forget: A mentor’s job is not to dictate your path, but collaborate with you on your journey. If you’re lucky enough to find a mentor, here’s are 8 ways in which you can get the most out of that relationship: 1/ Ask Tough Questions: Don’t shy away from challenging discussions. I always appreciated when my mentors provide honest feedback. It helped me refine my vision towards my business. 2/ Paint the Bigger Picture: Help your mentor understand the long-term vision you’re working towards. When they see the bigger picture, they can provide insights that help you with your goals. 3/ Create a Comfortable Space: Provide an environment where your mentor feels comfortable challenging you. Be open to their perspectives, and encourage them to push you beyond your limits. 4/ Be Proactive: Take the initiative in scheduling meetings and setting agendas. Show your mentor that you're committed and ready to take a leap with them. 5/ Set Clear Goals: Clearly outline what you hope to achieve through the mentorship. This helps both you and your mentor stay focused and measure progress. 6/ Act on Feedback: When your mentor provides advice, make sure to implement it and report back on the results. This will help build a relationship of mutual trust with your mentor. 7/ Share Your Wins and Challenges: Keep your mentor updated on your progress, both successes and setbacks. This allows them to offer tailored advice and encouragement, and it fosters a deeper connection. 8/ Network on Their Behalf: Introduce your mentor to your connections or offer to help them in their endeavors. Mentorship can be reciprocal, and showing appreciation through support can strengthen your relationship. Let’s repeat it once again: the Best mentorship is actually collaboration. If you’re ready to invest in your development, you’ll find that the right mentor can open doors and inspire you in ways you never imagined. #Mentorship #Leadership #CareerDevelopment #ProfessionalGrowth #Mentors

When I started out as a young diplomat, reaching out to senior colleagues felt terrifying. I didn’t want to seem unprepared or annoying, even though I had so many questions—how does the State Department really work? How do I navigate the bidding process to find my next role every 1-3 years? How do I lead effectively when I’m still figuring everything out myself? But here’s what I learned: most people remember what it’s like to be in your shoes. And so many are more than willing to help if you just ask. Once I got over the fear of reaching out, I found mentors who guided me through some of the toughest parts of my career, like: • Building influence in a large, bureaucratic organization. • Managing multi-million-dollar budgets and teams. • Learning how to have those hard but necessary conversations. • Balancing work and life as I became a parent. • Mentoring others as I moved into leadership roles. What’s key is realizing that mentorship is not a one-way street. A strong mentor-mentee relationship is a partnership where both sides learn and grow. Mentors gain insight into what emerging leaders are thinking, experiencing, and innovating. Mentees get the clarity, confidence, and strategy to move forward in their careers. The best advice I’ve received came from mentors who weren’t like me (or didn’t look like me)at all, who brought fresh perspectives and pushed me to see opportunities I hadn’t considered. And mentorship isn’t just casual coffee chats—it works best when it’s structured. Formal check-ins, shared goals, and mutual accountability make a world of difference. That structure helps you grow faster and ensures both sides get something valuable out of the relationship. The truth? The hardest part is asking for help. After that, the possibilities are endless. So, don’t hesitate—reach out, build those connections, and see where it takes you. It could change your career, just like it changed mine.

If you’ve ever wondered how to keep in touch with a mentor or follow up after a networking call, this might be the only guide you'll ever need. 👇🏾 One of the most common questions I get is, "How should I follow up after a networking call?" Here's the playbook: 1️⃣ Say "Thank You" This is a non-negotiable. Pro tip? Do it fast, have some class, don't make asks. ✨ Translation? ↳ Same day, ideally within 60 minutes. ↳ Be specific, concise, and genuine. ↳ Don't ask any questions or for any favors. ↳ Bonus: Use a loom video to make it personal and unforgettable. (it's the "handwritten card" of 2025). 2️⃣ Close the Loop Have you heard of the 99/1 phenomenon? ↳ 99% of the time you have a coffee chat, the other person will mention a book, article, person, or resource to leverage. ↳ Only 1% will do something with this info. 💡 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒊𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 1% 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆. 3️⃣ Add Value You can: ↳ Find out what lights them up and help them accelerate toward it ↳ Find out what keeps them up at night and present a solution to it ↳ Amplify their work ↳ Celebrate their milestones ↳ Aggregate existing data or create new data Ultimately, the secret here is no secret at all. Offering real value demonstrates character and builds relational capital. 💰 And you need to have something in the bank before you make a withdrawal. 4️⃣ Give A (Non-Invasive) Update People 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 to see stories of growth. But people 𝑳𝑶𝑽𝑬 to be a part of someone else's growth story. So, what can you do? Share a quick update on your recent wins or progress. Pro tip: ↳ Keep it relevant and concise. ↳ Tie it back to their investment in you, if relevant. 5️⃣ Make An Ask This comes last for a reason. ↳ Only make an ask after you’ve provided value. ↳ Timing and reciprocity are everything. ↳ When you're done, you're back to #1. Rinse and repeat. ---- Great follow-ups aren’t about pestering—they’re about adding value, showing you care, and staying unforgettable. Master these tactics and watch your relationships transform, forever. 🌱 What’s your favorite follow-up move that I forgot? Drop it below! 👇🏾 ---------------- ♻️ Repost to finally give the blueprint to active job seekers and networkers in your community! 🔔 Follow 🔥 Chauncey Nartey, SHRM-SCP, ACC to stay on the cutting edge of modern career wisdom.