xi) How To Choose A Mentor

Some questions to ask to help choose a mentor

. What do you, your organisation and boss want to achieve through mentoring and how will you measure success?

. Do the mentors you are considering know what they are doing? Do they have the relevant qualifications and experience? Do they keep up to date? Do they have a code of conduct? Are they aware of and comply with the Australian guideline on coaching in organisations? Do you know other people and organisations which have used them?

. Do they listen to you and ask questions about your needs, or do they come with predefined solutions?

. Can they explain their coaching approach? Do you feel comfortable with them?

 How to find an ideal mentor

- have great networking (usually underestimated by women)
- think about your role model, ie the person you would most like to be
- don't use your boss as a mentor (as the best mentors are those that don't have a vested interest to advise you in a particular way)
- take different mentors for different goals and in different stages of your career/life (prepared to have multiple mentors to achieve a range of goals
- never stop looking for mentors, ie be willing to "pick" people's brains
- have a specific problem, question or set of goals for a mentor
- be prepared to realise that you need help
- a good mentor does not give the answer but challenges and helps the mentee with his/her thinking, ie there "may be another way of thinking or doing this"
NB mentor early, mentor often