James Caan* says that every leader should have a mentor who can be their sounding board and challenge their decisions.
If you are a leader in your organisation, it can be quite a lonely life, but that doesn’t have to be the case.
The benefits of the right mentor could accelerate your growth and give you an extra boost of confidence.
I want to share the three main ways in which I believe mentorship can benefit your career.
You don’t have all the answers.
I have been in the recruitment space throughout my career, and yet it would be a mistake for me to presume that I have all the answers.
Far from it, I’m acutely aware that my industry has changed significantly almost every year that I’ve been in business.
In a dynamic, constantly evolving market, there’s no guarantee that what worked one year will continue to work in the future.
For that reason, even an expert with a proven record of success cannot claim to have all the answers.
There’s always value in a second opinion.
Having people to bounce ideas off and seek advice from has been a sure way to continue my development and growth.
Mentors help validate your decisions.
Often the greatest, most successful organisations owe their success to the bold decisions of their leaders.
Yet, without a way to validate those decisions, how can you feel secure that they were the right ones?
In my experience, some decisions are gut feelings: They just feel right.
However, on a day-by-day basis, there are also plenty of decisions to be made which aren’t instinctive.
In those cases, there’s nothing better than having your decisions validated by a mentor, giving you much greater confidence when it comes to execution and implementation.
Mentors challenge your thinking
If you go through your career without being challenged, you’re stifling your own opportunities for growth.
I’ve always found that I’ve learnt the most when I’ve had mentors who can challenge my opinions and thought process.
Even if my general idea seems good, the devil is in the details.
There’s huge value in talking to someone who’s got a better understanding of the specifics of an issue.
I’m a strong believer in the notion that success in business comes from getting the small things right.
The right mentors can help you complete those thought processes and fill in any gaps in your knowledge.
Overall, I believe great mentors really have the power to broaden your perspective and spark personal growth.
It’s one of the reasons I’m such a keen mentor for other leaders, particularly in the recruitment industry.
So, if you feel that you might be able to learn and develop from additional support — or that you could benefit from a good sounding board — then consider a mentor.
*James Caan builds businesses and backs talented people. He thinks it is important to invest in people rather than just products or businesses and can be contacted at [email protected].
This article first appeared at LinkedIn.
