5 Ways to Get the Most Out of Mentoring

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Mentoring is a great resource for professional and personal development. A mentor is usually someone who has been in the business for quite some time and can teach others from his or her accomplishments and mistakes. However, just simply asking someone to mentor you and chatting with them once per month isn’t enough. Here are a few tips to get the most out of a mentoring experience:

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Pick the Right Mentor

This is the most important step. What is the point of having a mentor if they can’t offer what you personally need? Find someone who is excited to teach, is great at what they do, and most importantly, is someone that you trust. In order for this process to work, choose a mentor who will take an active interest in your career and personal development.

Be Clear on Expectations

Make sure the mentor knows right off the bat what the expectations are from this relationship. Make sure both people clearly know what improvements are looking to be made, and what both parties would like to gain from this experience. This will help determine if this particular mentor is a good fit or not.

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Don’t Limit Yourself to Just One Mentor

There is no rule that says mentees can have only one mentor. One person may help improve your leadership skills, while the other focuses on communication skills. Don’t limit yourself if you have multiple possible mentors that can help you grow in different ways.

Show Thanks

Always express your gratitude. Saying thanks regularly will show your mentor that you are serious about this process and also value their time.

Don’t Take Everything They Say as Truth

Just because someone has 15 years of experience in an industry, that doesn’t mean they know everything. Take their advice as just that—advice. Let it help you make decisions and grow, but don’t let it completely dictate your path.  

What it Takes to Be a Leader

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Ken Lear is an expert in leadership, business, and entrepreneurship. He is currently working on opening a new office in Detroit, MI.

A lack of leadership for any company of team can have serious consequences.  Taking the responsibility of leadership is a daunting task, but if you’re up for it can be very rewarding. People always want to have a leadership role in their life, and that is how the world works.

A Great Leader…

Values Trust

Being able to trust someone with a task or information is crucial to a leader. A leader can’t do everything by themselves: they need a support team that they can help guide. Those that the leader trusts end up finding success. Trust leads to better collaboration and motivation. There is some risk in putting trust in people that shouldn’t be trusted, but it’s a type of risk that can be managed to forge bond with others

Provides Empowerment

More empowered employees means better business. When you can empower an employee, they will feel more worth in the company to make important decisions. This will only lead to more productive. Building management from the ground up may take effort and time, but an employee that has cadence and responsibility will only help to make work easier for leaders. It’s true that a great leader helps to make others leaders as well.

Has a Vision

Great leaders never dwell on the current day; they are always looking ahead. Leaders have a dream that they want other people to share. Through their actions and goals, a leader can show a team the vision they want to accomplish. A great leader will set direction and inspire loyalty fro their team. Looking ahead will make the future much easier to handle

Appreciates Their Team

No matter how great your product is or service, its all going to come down to how strong your team is. Invest is your team; let hem know that you appreciate them and are proud of them. If they need help, always be there to provide it. Loyalty can get you many places in life, and with a loyal team that you are constantly in communication with, nothing can stand in your way.

Years to Learn

A leader should never act like they have reached the peak of their career. There will always be new tactics to learn for being a leader, and a leader should always be seeking to get better. Leaders can even learn a lot for their team.  Things change everyday within the business world, so there will always be opportunities to learn. Keeping an open mind and being ready to learn something new is key to being a great leader.

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Lessons From House of Cards

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Ken Lear is a business professional, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, with expertise in all things business.

Just last week, Netflix released the second season of their hit drama House of Cards, starring Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright. The series deals with a Washington D.C. Congressman and his wife who go to ruthless ends to gain power in the Capital. The show has been a smash with customers, with 15% of Netflix’s 27 million subscribers have witnessed. It also teaches many lessons regarding the entrepreneurial world. Here are a few takeaways I have learned from watching the show:

Everyone Can’t Play By the Rules

I’m not saying take the Frank Underwood route and commit legal atrocities to reach the top. Focus more on thinking outside the box, and seeing things from a different view. There are countless strategies that haven’t even been concocted yet, and to see them means getting outside your comfort zone. Frank Underwood and his wife Claire never are afraid or look back. This is the same way if you want to be able to succeed as an entrepreneur.

Be One Step Ahead

Every single episode of House of Cards has someone being one step ahead in some way or another. Having a plan with goals isn’t just enough. It’s being able to know what to do when things don’t go the way you planned for, or when to capitalize on something that you should have seen coming. Being an entrepreneur takes a lot of practice and dedication. Never forget this.

It Takes More than One

Frank Underwood may have a sizable intellect, but supporters that have his back surround him. From his cold-hitting wife Claire, to his Chief of Staff Stamper, Frank uses his support system to get where he needs to be. This is as such in real life. You can have the strongest drive in the world, but it can only get you so far. Have people that you can rely on. This could be a team of employees you lead, your spouse, or even friends that are willing to support your endeavors. It’s never been harder to reach the top today, but with some assistance, it’s never been more achievable either.