CHRISTINE LIU: How to find a mentor?
So everyone's saying that you should have a mentor.
It's good for you.
But I don't have one.
I don't know how to feel about it?
I'm on the fence.
I feel like I am making this grand request for someone who
is probably way more busy and got way
more things on their plate.
Am I too old to have a mentor at this point
or who on earth would want to spend time with me?
Well, I have a ton of excuses, but I know it's important.
I'm going to give it a shot.
So in this video, we're going to figure out how to find a mentor
and make sure we're getting all the benefits
from that relationship.
Stick around if you want to see me go through these tips
step-by-step.
I'm ready to start my mentorship journey.
Let's go.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
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LESLIE CAMINO: When you have somebody
that has your back, somebody that cares about your success,
it really has the opportunity to give you
external perspective on how you can be
happier at what you're doing.
CHRISTINE LIU: That's Leslie Camino,
she's the senior director of global learning
at Keysight Technologies.
She manages leadership development,
diversity and inclusion, and culture programs.
For people like me--
I don't have a mentor.
What would you say to people who are like, yeah, well, I'm good.
I don't need one.
LESLIE CAMINO: Well, research shows that having a mentor
increases your capability of promotions, particularly
in women, and women of color, and people of color.
You are able to increase your capability
in certain areas of the job.
We know the impact that it has on engagement, retention,
employee growth.
CHRISTINE LIU: We're getting into mentor hunting mode.
Let's lay out all the necessary steps.
Take a pause before you start sending out
those mentor invitations.
Just understand what are you trying to do.
What's your goal?
What do you need out of this person?
LESLIE CAMINO: Do you have a higher vision?
Do you have a higher aspiration that you want to achieve?
You're essentially going to sell that dream to that person
to be able to say yes to investing
their time, their energy, and their knowledge.
Get very specific if, for example,
I want to become a better speaker,
I want to become a better writer,
I want to network with certain people.
Get super specific so you don't have
to do a lot of work with the mentor up front.
CHRISTINE LIU: Next, remember that this relationship
is two ways.
So both parties should feel some value out
of being in this relationship.
So think about what you bring to the table
and don't be shy about it.
LESLIE CAMINO: What is that special gift, what
is that special knowledge that you bring?
I've had CEOs that cannot wait to be mentors of emerging
leaders.
Why?
Because CEOs are insulated and this gives them a glimpse
lower in the organization.
CHRISTINE LIU: All right, you want
to make a short list of people that you want to reach out to.
I'm trying to figure out who to even consider.
LESLIE CAMINO: Somebody that listens,
somebody that's able to share their story, somebody that
doesn't mind being vulnerable, and somebody
that you feel really comfortable with, and has the time.
CHRISTINE LIU: If your top pick isn't available right now,
that's fine.
You made a connection.
That's something.
Now it's time to send your pitch.
It's just a top line intro and your vision.
[CLOCK TICKING]
Here's who I am, here's where I want to go,
and would you be down to help me on that journey.
LESLIE CAMINO: And then set up some time
for a one-on-one meeting.
That first meeting has to be about checking
that chemistry and--
CHRISTINE LIU: It's like a first date?
LESLIE CAMINO: Totally.
I didn't want to make that correlation, but it really is.
CHRISTINE LIU: Let's say you make
a connection, that is awesome.
Now this is the most important part,
if you take away anything from this video,
is that you are responsible for making this relationship work.
This means running the logistics,
setting up the meetings, figuring out the agenda,
being really clear what you want to do during this time together
because they're giving you a great gift of their time,
and knowledge, and insight.
They just need to roll up and just be in your hands.
I'm so excited to give this a whirl.
LESLIE CAMINO: You have a lot to gain and really
nothing to lose.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
CHRISTINE LIU: I rode into Boston today.
I'm going to meet up with one of my potential mentors,
hopefully.
I'm excited because she's a senior producer,
she works in a lot of the similar platforms,
and she works for a media company.
But I'm hoping to trade notes.
We're going to get some coffee.
I'm really excited and also it's a beautiful day, so let's go.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
All right, so I'm home now, but I think it was a win.
We discussed we should do this again.
We're tentatively doing a bimonthly call
that we can keep up to date and not blink and have a year go
by before talking again.
I am really excited that I went through everything.
Thank you, Leslie.
Hopefully this is a two-way win-win.
I feel great.
Peace out.
If you're still watching, one, thank you.
But, two, I'm really curious.
What do you want me to explore?
What problems do you have at work?
I love to solve them.
Please leave a comment.
I'd love to hear your thoughts.
And if you have any other ideas, throw them my way.
All right, peace out.