To get the most out of a mentoring experience, it is very important to choose a mentor who has a deep understanding of how the business works.  The information gained from these sources is better absorbed and applied through the content a mentor can give.  Building a one-on-one relationship with an experienced advisor is a smart way to help ensure success.

One of the key benefits of the mentor-mentee relationship is advice from a more experienced party.  Mentors can provide answers to questions and suggestions that can make a big difference when it comes to learning the business.  Because they are experienced, mentors can also provide context and perspectives that were not previously considered.  Mentors are invested in helping develop skills for the long term.

With the advice, experience, and support of an experienced person in you field, you can avoid the most common mistakes you are likely to make.  Mentors help you build all kinds of leadership skills, including decision making, strategic thinking, planning, coaching, and effectively managing others.

A mentorship is a relationship built on learning.  Your mentor is your learning coach, someone you can talk to and trust.  A good mentor will provide you with advice, feedback, and support.  They will help you focus on your goals and give you direction that helps you succeed more quickly that you could have done alone.  They will help you learn the secrets to success.  To maintain your relationship with your mentor, you need to recognize their value because the kind of advice they are going to give is likely to have the most profound effect on your career.

A mentor is a trusted advisor whom you can learn from because they can help you do a self-assessment.  They can provide honest feedback and help you towards your long-term success.  Mentors are an important part of professional development and having a good mentor will benefit you and your career in many different ways.  You will feel their sincerity in the way they present their desire to help you.  They are passionate about helping others on their team and receive their rewards in seeing people they have helped become successful.  They will create a strategy that fits your needs, talents, skills, and desires.  They also know how to provide positive feedback, which is something everyone can benefit from.  Even the most skilled and knowledgeable person is a beginner at something.

Employees who develop a mentoring relationship are often more productive in the workplace.  You will be more motivated when they provide you with ideas, thoughts, and insights that challenge and enable you to see beyond your sphere.  They push you to go farther.  They refuse to let you settle and challenge you to go farther than you ever imagined.  They use their words and their actions to support you.  They never quit believing and encouraging you.  They never give up on you.

In conclusion:  I feel having a trusted advisor whom you can learn from and look up to is a very important part of professional development.  Personally, I am very fortunate to have found my mentor in our Chief Strategy Officer.  Through her guidance, I have learned so much about our industry, and have been able to take on responsibilities I never thought I would be able to do.

Gina Cheatham: Sales Director for The Firm, Inc.