FIVE steps which you can easily make that will have a HUGE impact on what you can achieve in the following 12-months.
January each year is National Mentoring Month (well it is in the USA), it was initially started to promote youth mentoring and also the support for mental health.
Many people seek to change their habits, outlook and lives at the beginning of each year, and what better way to do that than through mentoring or skills development?
SO, there is no better reason for you to engage a Business or Professional Development Mentor to help you reach your 12-month goals?
Mentors help individuals to set and achieve their personal or professional goals.
They provide you with the support, process and framework that ensures you stay focused AND on track.
Gain the most out of the next 12-months by planning for it now!
Here are five simple steps you can make that will create a HUGE impact on what you can achieve in the next 12-months.
5 Steps that WILL make a difference in your life!
1. Do some research into the benefits of Mentoring
Does your workplace provide a mentor program or perhaps provide you with a subsidy as part of its staff training budget?
Not every mentor is right for you. It’s essential to choose someone that you like, relate with and most importantly ‘connect’ with.
Take some time to think about the type of person that you. Perhaps it’s someone in a related industry or travelled a similar journey?
Be mindful that you need to choose someone who can provide valuable advice and encouragement as a mentor AND someone who you have respect.
Choosing a mentor is not necessarily a difficult task, but it also shouldn’t be something you jump into haphazardly. Use our How to Choose a Mentor Checklist to help you get started.
2. Start to set some Goals
It’s important that you take some time to think about your journey forward. This path may take several years and a considerable change from you personally.
Create a series of short-term and long-term goals and document them to monitor and measure yourself more easily.
Build-in some milestones that can be used to validate your progress along the way and be sure to note any skill-development requirements which may be needed to help you transition more smoothly.
Working with a Mentor will also help you to map out this journey and build in the various stages of skills coaching. Some mentors, like myself, also have a mentoring framework that we use to keep you focused and on track.
3. Look for some Inspiration
Think about where you are heading over the long-term!Why you are on this journey, and what are you trying to achieve for yourself or perhaps your family?
For those looking to advance their career, their long-term vision may be to improve their Professional Development to advance through their organisation as far as possible e.g. President/CEO, General Manager etc.
For the self-employed, its often to grow their business to the point that it provides them with a lifestyle choice e.g. money, freedom etc.
For individuals, it’s typical to be searching for lifestyle freedom, be working for a cause that helps others or the community.
And entrepreneurs, they want to leave a lasting impression on the world by building something that will be recognised globally.
4. Build some Structure
Trust me, none of this is possible unless you put some structure around your plan.The most common issues for people NOT achieving their goals is the lack of time and focus.
Mentors like myself have proven frameworks that not only keep you focused and on track, they also solve the reasons why this hasn’t been possible in the past.
5. Obtain Feedback and Guidance
It’s impossible to achieve this by yourself!If it were, there wouldn’t be mentors, would there?
It’s important that you have someone that you can share your ideas and thoughts with.
That persons needs to be someone you can trust and also respect enough to provide honest and constructive feedback (this isn’t a family member).
Business Mentors and Professional Development Coaches provide impartial feedback to the progress you make throughout your mentor program.
They are also industry experts or subject matter experts which allows you to valuable insight into ideas and tips to turn your idea into a successful reality.
A great place to start is a Professional Development Self-Evaluation. Have a look at my free online 3-Min Professional Development Benchmarking Tool.
Measure and Improve - Your plan or mentoring program should run for at least 12-months.Throughout this period, you should have set various milestones which can be used to evaluate your progress and results.
Don’t expect quick-fixes, your plan is about changing your life, and lives run for a long time.
As part of your mentoring program, your mentor will have measurement factors that help you to review and improve.
Mentoring can have a Profound Impact
It can help you to connect with people who have been through similar situations and who can provide first-person accounts of how they overcame specific challenges.
By creating a culture of openness and support, where knowledge is shared freely, and people are encouraged to experiment with ideas that can be used to solve problems.
Mentoring will ultimately help you to pursue personal and professional development opportunities.
Now it’s your turn.
Make a resolution today to bring mentoring into your life and work. It is absolutely worth it!
Need some Help?
Robert Durrant provides high-performance mentoring, coaching and skill development services to help you set and achieve your personal and professional goals.
To learn more about the mentoring and coaching services available from Robert Durrant, please visit our Mentor Programs or Coaching Services page or call 03 9429-2293 or email rob@robertdurrant.com.au
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Robert Durrant
High Performance Mentor & Coach
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