4 myths about having mentors (and how to overcome them)

4 myths about having ratgebers (and how to overcome them)4 myths about having mentors (and how to overcome them)Mentors are special people. They take us under their wise, experienced wings and help us make sense of the often-bewildering world of work. Mentors help us to sharpen our skills and smooth out our rough edges. My mentors have helped me discover new strengths, go boldly after bigger goals, and avoid (or bounce back from) some cringe-worthy career missteps. A beratung relationship is a precious resource, indeed. Are you making the most of yours?In observance ofnational mentoring month, and since it isnt always clear how to make the most of a mentors time and advice, I dipped into the Be Leaderly archive to pull together this list of 11 favorite articles about being mentored. As I compiled the list, I noticed some common themes four common mentoring myths.Like any worthwhile professional development pursuit, being mentored is something you can improve at. If any of these myths resonate for you, click through, read on, and make the most of your mentors investment in you.Myth 1 You cant just flat-out ask a stranger to mentor youMentoring relationships can grow organically if youre lucky. Most of the time, you dont just stumble upon a great mentor. Instead, writes Sabina Nawaz, its up to us to find people we respect and ask for their guidance. But approaching a stranger can be downright daunting. Right now, your inner critic is probably weighing in to add, Why would that awe-inspiring, accomplished, industry rock-star want to help me?To encourage you to make the ask, Nawaz includes a sample example of a persuasive, well-crafted email in inHow to Convince a Strangertobe Your Mentor. As you make your request, Be brief, be gracious, position yourself as a highly-valuable apprentice and as always, keep it classy, writes Alexandra Franzen. InDesperately seeking a mentor?Franzen lays out some additional, valuable advice on what to say (and not to say) as your co urt your drrream mentor.Myth 2 Your mentor will also act as your sponsorIn the early days of your career, your mentor and sponsor are likely to be the same person, says Carla Harris, Vice Chairman of Wealth Management at Morgan Stanley. (Whats the difference between the two? ?A mentor helps youskill up, whereas a sponsor will help youmove up.)But things get more complicated as you progress beyond entry level, cautions Harris. Having one individual fill both roles is less than ideal. Why? Well, your sponsor needs to be squarely focused on what youre good at, so they can act as a wholehearted ambassador for your potential and sto down doors on your behalf. That might be difficult if youve revealed your concerns, weaknesses, fears, or mistakes to them in a mentoring conversation. InAsk an Exec Can My Mentor be My Sponsor?Harris describes how to select the best person for each role.Myth 3 Youll eventually run out of things to talk aboutHave conversations with your mentor gotten repetiti ve? Dont write off the relationship too quickly, even if it seems like it may have run its course. Often, its not the relationship thats staleyou just need some fresh material to discuss. InFour Types of Questions To Ask Your MentorI share four categories of questions to prepare ahead of every mentoring conversation that will keep things interesting and valuable for you and your mentor.Want specific examples? Ive listed a bunch in25 Questions to Ask a Mentor. By preparing thoughtfully for each mentoring session, youll avoid the awkwardness of feeling like youre wasting your mentors time and ensure the mentoring relationship remains gratifying for both of you for many years to come.Myth 4 Being mentored is just for newbiesAs we grow in competence and in our careers, setting aside time to be the recipient of a mentors advice can seem like an unnecessary burden. But the complexity of situations we have to deal with grows too, and theres no way to predict when a mentors advice or pers pective could be a career game-changer.I am proud and happy to be mentor-rich writes attorney Lyndsay Markley, whose array of mentors includes trial attorney mentors, networking mentors, style mentors, judicial mentors, and rainmaking mentors. We dont have to be at the beginning of our careers to have a mentor, adds Markley inThe Importance of Mentoring How Strong is Your Network?This article first appeared on Be Leaderly.