If you see yourself as an aspiring entrepreneur, there’s no better experience than learning from someone who have gone before you — someone who has learned a few lessons and made a few mistakes along the way. Studies show that Millennials want to work with a mentor — according to a survey from PricewaterhouseCoopers, 98 percent of Millennials see a mentor as integral to career development. However, a worthwhile mentorship takes work and should adapt to the modern reality of entrepreneurship.
The Upstart Business Journal has some tips to finding the right mentor:
1. Raise your voice when selecting a mentor.
Look for mentors who already possess the skills you need. You also want to find someone who has the right personality and coaching style for that professional development to stick. Co-create the mentoring relationship to ensure that both parties are engaged for similar reasons. You both want to have clear expectations and accountability. The mentor relationship may change over time. Feel free to renegotiate the look, feel, and terms of the relationship periodically in order to keep it mutually beneficial.
2. Consider having more than one mentor.
One of the benefits of a mentorship is developing a relationship with someone who becomes your champion, who can introduce you to people and opportunities you might not otherwise have access to. Having multiple mentors who believe in you can help exponentially build a network with power players across industries and sectors.
3. Look beyond your current company’s four walls.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that Millennials will have had approximately nine jobs by the age of 32. While some Millennials fantasize about one day occupying the C-suite in his or her current job, most are realistic enough to know that he or she may not be at that one job for too long. It’s vital for aspiring entrepreneurs to choose mentors who don’t have a stake in them staying in a current position. The mentor needs to be a cheerleader without an agenda. Then, a mentor can help facilitate a mentee’s movement in and out of entrepreneurship.
4. Get ready to give back.
Millenials will comprise 50 percent of the workplace very soon. And with more than 70 million Baby Boomers retiring over the next 20 years, those Millennials who aren’t launching their own businesses may be asked to take on leadership roles earlier than expected. Gain hands-on leadership experience by asking your mentors how you can help them, be it building online communities or spearheading sustainability initiatives. Why wait? Be an effective leader in your current and future roles.
