Connecting With Your Mentor

Source: Journal of Accountancy

This article by Ralph E. Viator, PhD, and Derek Dalton, CPA, includes eight ideas for connecting with a mentor and making the most of mentoring relationships. Here is a brief overview:

1. Consider having more than one mentor. An upper-level mentor can generally offer professional advice, and a peer mentor who is only slightly ahead of you can offer some advice as well as support and encouragement.
2. Take the first step. Identify someone you think you'd like to learn from, and start developing a relationship with him or her.
3. Make social connections with higher ups, not just with your peers.
4. Practice leadership in your everyday work. In addition to completing your own tasks, consider how you can help other members of the team.
5. Maintain a positive reputation so that a potential mentor will be willing to work with you.
6. Consider pursuing a mentoring relationship with your supervisor or with a senior professional outside your company.
7. Consider mentoring via email as an alternative to via traditional mentoring means. Though less personal, it has the advantage of removing barriers of intimidation or individual differences that may be present in face-to-face mentoring.
8. Demonstrate your willingness to learn by pursuing opportunities to develop your skills.

For the complete article, read “Eight Ways to Expand Your Mentoring Network.”

From Journal of Accountancy, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, October 2011, http://www.journalofaccountancy.com/Issues/2010/Oct.