How to Find Support and Mentorship

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!

Finding a mentor sounds great—until you try it. Then it gets awkward. I used to think mentorship had to be a big commitment. Regular check-ins. Long-term guidance. But what if we’re thinking too big? Let’s talk about something smaller—yet just as powerful. 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼-𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽. It’s not about scheduling monthly calls. Or hoping your dream mentor has time to guide your entire career. Instead, think of mentorship as moments. Tiny touchpoints that, when added up, make a real difference. Here’s how to build your micro-mentorship network: ✅ 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗱𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 Join HR groups (LinkedIn, Slack, Reddit). Post your questions. Read the threads. Watch how other pros think through real issues. You’ll learn from every angle. ✅ 𝗔𝘀𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 Met a leader you admire? Don’t ask them to mentor you. Ask them for one piece of advice. A career book they loved. A mistake they’d never make twice. Small asks = better results. ✅ 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗔𝗜 𝗮𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 Yep, even ChatGPT can help. Not as a mentor—but as a brainstorming partner. Use it to role-play tough convos or draft plans. The ideas are instant, and the feedback is judgment-free. ✅ 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗔𝗰𝘁 When someone gives you advice... pause. Do they know your goals? Your strengths? No? Then don’t take their advice at face value. What works for one HR pro may not work for another. Here’s the truth: Your career won’t be shaped by one mentor. It’ll be shaped by hundreds of small moments of insight. Start gathering them today. What’s the best one-liner career advice you’ve ever gotten? Tag someone who gives great advice. ♻️ I appreciate 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 repost. 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗛𝗥 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀? Click the "𝗩𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗺𝘆 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿" link below my name for weekly tips to elevate your career! #Adamshr #Hrprofessionals #humanresources #HR #theinsider   #hrcommunity Adams HR Consulting Stephanie Adams, SPHR

Monday Mindset! Is the fear of asking for help preventing you from seeking mentorship? It can be intimidating to ask someone for guidance and support as you pursue your career goals. Fear of rejection, imposter syndrome, or hesitation about being a “burden” can stop us from reaching out to others for guidance. Unfortunately, these concerns hold many of us back from one of the best sources of professional growth and development. In my opinion, a core issue is that many of us put too much stock in an official mentor-mentee relationship. I’ve spoken with countless professionals who tell me they don’t have access to mentorship because their company doesn’t have a formal mentoring program. Or they are looking for advice on how to ask a very busy senior leader to be their mentor. While there are certainly benefits to formal mentorship, you need not have an official program or access to senior leadership to obtain effective mentorship. In fact, I think these expectations can work to the detriment of professional development. Like any relationship, when we look to one person to meet all of our needs, we will bump up against diminishing returns. Instead, when we seek help and guidance on a specific topic from an expert in that skill, we minimize the weight of the request, gain access to a much broader pool of potential mentors, and maximize the impact of the development by finding those who excel in exactly what we are looking to develop. In this way, you might have multiple mentors across several different capabilities simultaneously. And, depending on your goal, these relationships need not be long lasting. You could seek guidance from a peer who excels in executive story telling on a presentation you are building. At the same time, you might solicit help from a tenured leader on building your internal network. We all love to be recognized for what we are good at, so highlighting another’s superpower can also help them understand their strengths. This week, how can you challenge your definition of mentorship by observing what others around you do well and asking them for insight? #lifecoach #leadershipcoach #leadership #leadershipdevelopment #womeninbusiness #womenempoweringwomen #mondaymindset