Having a Mentor Can Be Your Ace!

The word for the week is "Mentor."

Betsy Plank was a mentor to so many in public relations, including me! When she donated significant funds to her alma mater, University of Alabama, she helped to establish the Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations. It ensured her legacy of mentoring would be passed down for generations.

Having a mentor is one of the foundational blocks for a successful career and successful life. If you don’t have a mentor, this is the week to research and identify potential confidants. If you already have a mentor, this is the week to connect and review your goals and aspirations.

Knowing what you want from a mentoring relationship is critical. Before you sit down with your mentor for the first time, decide what you hope to learn. Ask yourself what you want in work and life. What assets will help you get there? Identify the strengths that will best serve you. Then, honestly examine the roadblocks, challenges, or weaknesses that are slowing you down. Once you do that, you're ready to articulate your goals and share them with your mentor. Keep it to no more than five goals, so they don't detract from what your mentor has to offer.

Throughout my career I was fortunate to have two mentors. One was my sorority sisters, 20 years my senior, taught me business decorum, how to dress for corporate environments and how to get past executive assistants. My other mentor was an industry pioneer who helped guide me in every career decision I made. Having Corine Green and Chester Burger as mentors helped shape my career path and contributed to any success I have enjoyed to-date.

Often overlooked are peer mentors. These are your colleagues who are fighting along side you in the trenches. These are the team of champions and daily supporters that are an important part of your network. These are the individuals you grow with over the years and provide inspiration to your minor scrimmages and challenges. You call upon the peer mentors when a call to your more senior mentors is not appropriate. You can now share what you learn with your peers through social media. How awesome is that!?!

I will connect with my mentors and review my goals.

@cprocterrogers #mentor #findamentor

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