I just saw probably the 1000th article on how to find the right mentor. It seems to be the career advice du jour. It’s not that I don’t believe you need a mentor or that mentors aren’t effective, I’ve had plenty, and they were all awesome. It’s the moniker. We’re giving the variety of people who guide us along our career path all the same label. By giving them the same label, we’re not describing nor maximising the relationship to its fullest potential.
Consider the word “coach” in the world of American Football. I did a quick search and found no less than ten different roles in the team. My guess is the “Linebacker coach” brings something uniquely different to the team than the “Quarterback coach.” Sure, they are both called “coach,” but the players work with them in very different ways and look to them for very different needs. I have no idea why I chose this analogy as, unsurprisingly, I know nothing about football. However, it works, right? Continue reading “Finding Your “Team You””