The Mentor and The Savvy

Who doesn’t want to be savvy?

I was reading the Wall Street Journal, and it has the very best article titled, “How to Be a Smart Protégé.”  The article gives eight tips for setting up a network of mentors.  The authors Dawn E. Chandler, Douglas T. Hall, and Kathy E. Kram, describe the modern mentee as a “savvy.”    Why a savvy?  When the authors were trying to look for the eight tips, they were looking for “relationally savvy” people.  They were looking for people who were good at building networks.  That’s right, more social networking – but social networking with a strategic goal in finding mentors.

The article advises, “Instead of looking at one person as a guide, a would-be protégé should build up a team of mentors drawn from all areas of his or her professional and personal lives.  That way you don’t have to rely too heavily on one person to give you all the guidance you need.  And you get a broader range of advice and information.”

A couple of the take-aways that really stuck with me are:

1.       Look for people that are outside your normal day-to-day life.  Find people who have a similar energy or excitement as you, but who are in different professions, age groups, socio-economic positions. You can choose people to be your mentor even if you never tell them. I have met people, seen people on television whom I admire, and then I act as if they were my mentor, studying how they think, act, and show themselves to the world.

2.       When looking to the mentor for advice or support, allow yourself to be honest, vulnerable, and authentic in stating what you need.  You don’t have to go into your most private thoughts, but trust your mentor with information.  If they prove themselves not to be worthy, then get that person out of your life

3.       Try to help the mentor if you can in any way possible.  Help your mentor brainstorm something that might be on his/her mind.  Give your talent back to your mentor in whatever form you can.

4.       Stay in contact with your mentor(s).  Use social media, Twitter, FaceBook, LinkedIn.  Schedule weekly, biweekly, or monthly coffees.  Somehow keep communicating.

5.       Have a positive attitude.  Assume people out there want to help you out and give you advice.  Be excited for your mentors’ good fortune and successes.

Relationship building takes time and is a steady process.  I have mentors that are now shifting careers, and they are asking me for support.  Some of my guides I have had for the past 25 years.    Finding mentors never ends.  I am gravitating to new people all the time.  After all, I want to be a “savvy.”