I ran across this blog today: How to find a circle of mentors and started to just share it, but felt like I wanted to add something to it. It has some great advice. And sounds really simple. But here's what I know...
We are insecure. It feels weird asking someone to mentor you. It feels even weirder to ask someone if YOU can mentor THEM. I speak from personal experience. I've asked people in the past to mentor me who have said both yes and no--and even worse, nothing at all. Some have turned our really great and others have flopped. It's made me extra-sensitive to ask again. I mean, shouldn't all this just come naturally? Shouldn't I just "click" with someone and the mentoring happens without me having to put myself out there to ask?
Sometimes it does. But not always...
But here's what I also know: sometimes easy isn't best. Sometimes you have to be willing to be vulnerable to set the stage for the relationship--to put yourself out there and get out of your comfort zone.
And another thing: I loved in this post where she talked about our expectations. Many times we think we need the perfect mom to mentor us in our parenting, the top exec to mentor us in our work, the friend with the cleanest house to mentor us in how to get it all done each day. And in holding on to those expectations, we miss the person in front of us who might be the best for us, but is far from perfect.
Are you stuck in that place of wanting to ask--either to be mentored or to mentor--and scared to move forward? I'd love to hear why you think you haven't taken that step yet.
Are you in a mentoring relationship right now? What's the best and worst thing about it? How did you find your mentor/mentee?
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