Management Tip of the Day: 2 Ways to Get Mentoring without a Mentor

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Are you having trouble viewing this email? If so, click here to see it in a web browser. HOME   |   BLOGS   |   THE MAGAZINE   |   BOOKS   |   AUTHORS   |   STORE RSS   |   Mobile JUNE 2, 2010 2 Ways to Get Mentoring without a Mentor A mentor is a great resource for career advice, feedback, and help building your skills and capabilities. However, it's not always possible to find one person who has the time or expertise to help you with all of the above. Try these two approaches to getting the mentoring you need: Ask senior leaders for advice. Reach out to a leader you respect for advice or coaching on a specific work challenge. Busy people are more likely to have an hour to spend with you than to be able to commit to a long-term mentoring relationship. Create an input board. Line up a group of colleagues who are willing to give you day-to-day feedback on things like the clarity of a presentation or whether or not you should take an issue to your boss. This type of quick, frequent input can be especially valuable when it comes from a group with diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Today's Management Tip was adapted from "Finding a Mentor" on the "Ask the Expert: Tammy Erickson" board of the HBR Answer Exchange. Read the full thread and join the discussion » Share Today's Tip: RELATED PRODUCT 360-Degree Mentoring Harvard Management Update Article In today's business culture, your ideal mentor is not necessarily several rungs up the corporate ladder. Instead, your mentor might actually be a network of five or six people from all levels in your organization. ADVERTISEMENT Follow the Tip: PREVIOUS TIPS 3 Tips for Giving Your Boss Feedback Rid Your Organization of Email Dysfunction Be Wary of the Downsides of Entrepreneurship 3 Tips for Making Small Talk with the Big Boss 4 Tips for Speaking from a Podium What's Your Leadership Brand? Don't Cry Wolf to Motivate Your People 4 Steps to Achieving Organizational Bipartisanship Decide What's Worth Your Time Consider More Than Your Own Sustainability BEST SELLERS Guide to Persuasive Presentations 10 Must-Read Articles from HBR Financial Intelligence Collection HBR's Must-Reads on Managing Yourself Guide to Better Business Writing HBR Online Trial Access HBR's in-depth business archives FREE for 14 days. Register today » UNSUBSCRIBE   |   UPDATE YOUR PROFILE   |   MORE EMAIL NEWSLETTERS   |   PRIVACY POLICY Was this email forwarded to you? If so, sign up to start receiving your own copy. ABOUT THIS MAILING LIST You have received this message because you subscribed to the "Management Tip of the Day" email newsletter from Harvard Business Review. If at any point you wish to remove yourself from this list, change your email address, or sign up for other email newsletters and alerts, please visit the Harvard Business Review Email Newsletter Preference Center. ADVERTISE WITH HBR This enewsletter is read by thousands of decision makers every day. Learn more about connecting your brand with this audience. Copyright © 2010 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing | 60 Harvard Way | Boston, MA 02163 Customer Service: 800-545-7685 (+1-617-783-7600 outside the U.S. and Canada)