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your boss. Or your boss’s boss. Consider executives
in other divisions. Consider older individuals who
may not be top executives but who have tons of
experience. Approach that individual and ask if they
would consider being your mentor. Let them know
why you selected them and what you hope to learn
from them. It is really key to align your goals with
their expertise and experience. Be prepared to talk
about what the relationship might look like and
how much time might be involved. There is a big
difference between meeting someone for lunch on a
quarterly basis versus a weekly phone call. Be clear
what you want out of the mentoring process and
structure your relationship accordingly. Don’t put it
off. What can you lose? Even if they decline to be
your mentor, and few will, they will be flattered that
you asked.
Starting a Mentoring Program
Finally, if you or your company is interested in
instituting a formal mentoring program, it is
important to, yes, find a mentor for the process.
Research other programs, talk to other executives
and find the one that fits your company.
When you have your program in place, remember to
be flexible and inclusive when matching the mentor
and protégé. The right mentor may not always be
the first person you think of. It is also important to
ensure that participants really want to do this! It
can’t be a “box” they check off; they have to have a
genuine interest (and the aforementioned skill set) to
participate.
You should provide some skill building and structure,
especially in the introductory phase, and be prepared
to support the program with best practices. Finally,
don’t forget to evaluate the program and incorporate
the feedback. You want the program to be successful
and worthwhile, so it needs to be given careful time
and attention.
Mary Abbajay is a partner in the Careerstone Group, a professional consult-
ing company that specializes in leveraging generational diversity to support
organizational success. She can be reached at .
For more information on coordinating a mentorship through PLSO go to