Need a Mentor? Ask Yogesh

18 June 2025
Yogesh Sood

Dear mentor seeker,

You’ve asked a thoughtful and important question about finding a mentor. It’s clear you’re proactive and ambitious—traits that will serve you well in your career. People who successfully cultivate mentoring relationships tend to share a few qualities: they are goal-oriented, curious, sociable, and comfortable asking for help. By asking these questions, you’re already on the right path.

Step 1: Define Your Goals

Before you begin your search for a mentor, take time to clarify your career goals. These may evolve over time, and that’s perfectly fine. What matters is that you can articulate what you want help with right now. Knowing your goals will guide you in identifying potential mentors who can offer the support you need.

If you’re exploring career options, reach out to people working in roles you find interesting. Ask about what they enjoy, what challenges they face, and what they wish they had known when starting out.
If you’re looking to build specific skills, identify individuals known for excelling in those areas. Approach them to learn about how they developed their expertise.

It takes courage to reach out, and not everyone will say yes. But you might be surprised at how many people are willing to share their wisdom and experiences.

Step 2: Cultivate Connections

People love to share advice and talk about their experiences. When you approach potential mentors:

Ask smart questions. Pay attention to what they care about and shape your questions accordingly.
Show gratitude. Always thank them for their time and insights.
Stay in touch. Share relevant articles, books, or ideas that align with their interests. This shows that you value their guidance and builds a stronger connection.

Over time, you’ll naturally form deeper relationships with some of these individuals. Those with whom you feel a genuine connection are likely candidates to become your mentor.

Step 3: Securing a Mentor

Once you’ve identified someone you admire, you can ask them to mentor you. Not everyone will be able to say yes—they might be too busy or have other commitments. If that happens, thank them for their time and leave the door open for future conversations. Eventually, you’ll find someone who’s enthusiastic about the idea.

When you do, collaborate to design your mentoring relationship. Every partnership is unique, but here are some key areas to focus on:

Set a time frame. Agree on a specific duration for your mentoring relationship, such as six months or a year. This creates a natural point to reassess or renew the commitment.
Define goals. Establish clear, specific goals for your time together. These will help both of you track progress and see the impact of the mentoring.
Schedule regular meetings. Set a consistent cadence for your meetings, whether in person, by phone, or virtually. A regular schedule prevents too much time from slipping by without interaction.
Review the partnership. Periodically check in to ensure both sides feel the relationship is working well. Open communication is key.

Step 4: Be a Great Mentee

As a mentee, it’s your responsibility to drive the relationship. Come prepared to each meeting and show your mentor that you value their time and insights. Here’s how:

Be prepared. Outline your recent actions, results, challenges, and questions before each meeting. This helps you make the most of your time together.
Make clear requests. Be specific about what you need, whether it’s advice, feedback, or introductions. Be open to alternatives if your mentor can’t meet a request.
Show gratitude. A handwritten note, a small gift, or simply expressing thanks can go a long way. Pay attention to your mentor’s preferences—whether they love chocolate, books, or a thoughtful acknowledgment in front of others.

Step 5: Build on the Experience

As you grow, your mentoring relationships may evolve. You might move on to new mentors or even become a mentor yourself. Keep learning, stay curious, and maintain a mindset of gratitude.

For further insights, consider reading One Minute Mentoring by Ken Blanchard and Claire Diaz-Ortiz. It’s a great resource for building meaningful mentoring relationships.

Good luck on your journey—you’re off to a fantastic start!

Best regards,

Yogesh

Need a Mentor? Ask Yogesh

Dear mentor seeker,

Step 1: Define Your Goals

If you’re exploring career options, reach out to people working in roles you find interesting. Ask about what they enjoy, what challenges they face, and what they wish they had known when starting out.

If you’re looking to build specific skills, identify individuals known for excelling in those areas. Approach them to learn about how they developed their expertise.

It takes courage to reach out, and not everyone will say yes. But you might be surprised at how many people are willing to share their wisdom and experiences.

Step 2: Cultivate Connections

People love to share advice and talk about their experiences. When you approach potential mentors:

Ask smart questions. Pay attention to what they care about and shape your questions accordingly.

Show gratitude. Always thank them for their time and insights.

Stay in touch. Share relevant articles, books, or ideas that align with their interests. This shows that you value their guidance and builds a stronger connection.

Over time, you’ll naturally form deeper relationships with some of these individuals. Those with whom you feel a genuine connection are likely candidates to become your mentor.

Step 3: Securing a Mentor

When you do, collaborate to design your mentoring relationship. Every partnership is unique, but here are some key areas to focus on:

Set a time frame. Agree on a specific duration for your mentoring relationship, such as six months or a year. This creates a natural point to reassess or renew the commitment.

Define goals. Establish clear, specific goals for your time together. These will help both of you track progress and see the impact of the mentoring.

Schedule regular meetings. Set a consistent cadence for your meetings, whether in person, by phone, or virtually. A regular schedule prevents too much time from slipping by without interaction.

Review the partnership. Periodically check in to ensure both sides feel the relationship is working well. Open communication is key.

Step 4: Be a Great Mentee

As a mentee, it’s your responsibility to drive the relationship. Come prepared to each meeting and show your mentor that you value their time and insights. Here’s how:

Be prepared. Outline your recent actions, results, challenges, and questions before each meeting. This helps you make the most of your time together.

Make clear requests. Be specific about what you need, whether it’s advice, feedback, or introductions. Be open to alternatives if your mentor can’t meet a request.

Show gratitude. A handwritten note, a small gift, or simply expressing thanks can go a long way. Pay attention to your mentor’s preferences—whether they love chocolate, books, or a thoughtful acknowledgment in front of others.

Step 5: Build on the Experience

As you grow, your mentoring relationships may evolve. You might move on to new mentors or even become a mentor yourself. Keep learning, stay curious, and maintain a mindset of gratitude.

For further insights, consider reading One Minute Mentoring by Ken Blanchard and Claire Diaz-Ortiz. It’s a great resource for building meaningful mentoring relationships.

Good luck on your journey—you’re off to a fantastic start!

Best regards,

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