Finding a Mentor to Maximize Growth, Performance, and Confidence

Episode 34 of the Faithful on the Clock podcast, hosted by Wanda Thibodeaux, titled "Finding a Mentor to Maximize Growth, Performance, and Confidence" was published on March 21, 2022 and runs 13 minutes.

March 21, 2022 ·13m · Faithful on the Clock

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Episode Description

Faithful on the Clock is a podcast with the mission of getting your work and faith aligned. We want you to understand Who you're serving and why so you can get more joy and legacy from every minute spent on the clock. Thanks for joining us and taking this step toward a more fulfilling job and relationship with God!

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In this episode...

Faithful on the Clock

https://faithfulontheclock.com/finding-a-mentor-for-maximized-growth-performance-and-confidence

You can do a lot on your own. You can do even more with the support of a great mentor. Episode 34 of the Faithful on the Clock podcast tells you why mentors typically say no, where to find them, and what to look for.

Timestamps:

[00:05] - Intro

[00:38] - Professionals routinely told me what a difference mentors made, and I wanted one myself. You deserve to have someone who can guide you, not just for your career, but for your mental health.

[02:07] - There are four reasons a mentor might turn you away: 1) They’re busy, 2) you don’t give them proof of ROI, 3) you’re arrogant rather than confident, and 4) they’re not sure of what they can offer.

[03:38] - Start your search for a mentor by cultivating the right attitude, using the four reasons mentors turn people away to pull you in a proper direction.

[04:13] - One place to start is by looking at influential people in your industry, but most people know about those folks, so competition is fierce.

[04:51] - A potentially more fruitful place to find a mentor is right within your own family and community. People close to home know what you’re experiencing and usually can more easily invest time in you for the long haul.

[06:15] - Make sure you’re compatible with your mentor, because you’ll need to spend tons of hours with them. That should be enjoyable!

[06:56] - A good mentor should be genuinely positive because they are helping develop you as a human being, not just on technicals.

[07:48] - Key signs of integrity

[08:28] - Although it’s ideal that a mentor be a Christian, it’s possible that you could lead them to God. If they meet all other criteria, do not be afraid to start your partnership and get mutual mentorship going in your relationship.

[09:48] - No one is perfect, so if a potential mentor doesn’t check all the boxes, it’s fine to have more than one mentor at a time to get what you need.

[10:18] - Don’t be intimidated! Most professionals, especially once they’ve already reached the top, want to mentor and pass on a true legacy.

[11:16] - Prayer

[11:52] - Outro/What’s coming up next

Key takeaways:

I wanted to do an episode on mentorship because of what other leaders have said, as well as my own experience feeling like I needed guidance.
Mentors often turn people down for four reasons: 1) they are busy 2) they don’t have proof of a good ROI, 3) they think the potential mentee is arrogant rather than confident, and 4) they are not sure they have anything to offer. Having the right attitude and preparing well can overcome these common obstacles.
Because mentoring requires a close connection and serious time commitment, and because “big shot” people often have so many individuals vying for their attention, you might have better luck finding a good mentor close to home in your family or local community.
The mentor you work with should have good credentials, but it’s just as important that they have a personality that is compatible with yours.
Good mentors are genuinely positive and have good integrity. This means they have a grounded faith in your ability to succeed and that they demonstrate behaviors such as adherence to truth.
Although it’s ideal that your mentor be a Christian, it is OK to work with a nonbeliever so long as they consistently behave in an upright way–many good people simply have not heard the Good News. You could lead them to get saved over the course of your relationship.
Don’t be intimidated in your mentor search. Most people really do want to mentor as a way of building and leaving legacy.

Relevant Links:

CTAs:

Familiarize yourself with the common signs of good integrity. Learn how to discern the difference between toxic positivity and genuine positivity.
Figure out specifically what you need your mentor to be/do for you.
Search for a mentor who can spend time consistently with you and who shows both genuine positivity and good integrity.

What’s coming up next:

In Episode 35 of the podcast, we’ll cover different ways to approach scheduling. We’ll help you find a time management strategy that fits your personality and lifestyle so you can get more done.

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