Seek Out a Networking Mentor

With most aspects of life and business, we lean on others at times to guide us. Why reinvent the wheel every time when you can learn from others?  Can you point to a mentor who has guided you throughout your career? Like most of us, you can probably point to more than one. Mentors can take many forms and help in multiple ways. A mentor could be your sibling, parent, boss, pastor, rabbi, or anyone who takes an interest in developing you in some way.

To become a more effective networker, seek out a “networking mentor”. Find someone who has built an impressive network that has helped him/her to become more successful. You probably know who these people are in your business circles or community. You can’t force anyone to be your mentor so get to know these people very well.  Over time, if you show value in your relationship with them, then they will probably naturally start mentoring you. Mentoring is a give and take relationship. Don’t treat it as one-sided.

Before you know it, you will become a better networker and more successful. Two of my networking mentors are Lillian Bjorseth of Duoforce Enterprises, Inc. and John Dallas of Hillview Partners Network. In fact, John just wrote about mentoring in his weekly word.

Do you have any stories to share about a networking mentor?

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