Author: Kelli Richards

The 4 Most Important Reasons You Need to Become a Mentor

Kelli Richards December 8, 2014

“This article was originally published on Inc.com”

Fifty years ago, a fourth-grade teacher in rural Mississippi noticed something special in a little girl in her class. The teacher knew the little girl could achieve great things, but something was holding her back.

ID-100199995So the teacher asked her to read aloud in class to help her overcome her nerves. She spent time with the little girl after school and allowed her to choose books and help grade papers. Her influence helped the little girl see past poverty. Today, that girl has become one of the most influential women in the world: Oprah Winfrey.

Mentorship has obvious benefits for both the mentee and the mentor. You’ve probably read articles that talk about the knowledge, connections, and personal growth that mentorship can provide.

But one day, someone might reach out and ask to be mentored. Or, like Mary Duncan, you will come across someone who has potential she hasn’t yet reached.

What will you do in this situation? If you’re struggling to see the value in becoming a mentor, consider these additional advantages that mentorship can help you realize.

1. Achieve personal career gains. Mentors are people who will go the extra mile to help others and exert a positive influence on their lives. And that can lead to huge career opportunities.

Don’t believe me? Sun Microsystems did a study on the career progress of more than 1,000 employees over a five-year period. It discovered that both mentors and mentees were 20 percent more likely to get a raise than people who did not participate in mentoring. Mentors were also six times more likely to be promoted than employees who didn’t mentor. To that end, you can ask your mentees for testimonials–videotaped or written–to validate your experience when applying for positions in the future.

2. Enhance your leadership skills. When you teach someone, you truly become a master on that subject. You not only reinforce valuable leadership lessons, but you also question and refine your own thinking and approaches.

You’ll find yourself working harder to live up to the expectations of your mentee. After all, you can’t advise her to work hard and do things you aren’t willing to do yourself. With the mentee’s spotlight on you, you’ll push yourself to grow.

3. Help shape the leaders of tomorrow. Mentees will often (but not always) be younger than you. It’s easy to think the next generation needs more education while you have it all figured out.

But the truth is that Millennials are the ones creating the workplace of tomorrow. They understand trends and technology that may escape you. If you watch your mentee closely, you’ll almost certainly pick up some information or habits that are new and beneficial to you.

4. Gain the intrinsic rewards of helping others. This is the reason you hear most often, but it’s a powerful one.

I was recently working with a client who was struggling with her self-perception. Her negative thoughts were holding her back in many areas. When we peeled back the layers together, we found the root of the problem, which helped her begin to heal. That aha moment completely changed her trajectory, and she’s now taken her business to new heights.

She might not be the next Oprah Winfrey, but just knowing I had an impact on her life is a great feeling that makes the time and effort completely worth it.

Mary Duncan didn’t know the little girl in her fourth-grade class would go on to become one of the most famous and successful women in history. But Oprah credits much of her success to those afternoons with her teacher.

When you decide to mentor someone, you really have no way of knowing how far she’ll go. Whether you shape the next great entrepreneur of our time or help someone achieve her dreams, you’ll make a difference–and that’s all that matters.

Until next time,

Kelli Richards

CEO of The All Access Group, LLC

PS: The right mentor should also have the right CONNECTIONS to move you forward. Be sure to ask who they think they can bring to the table around advisorship, possible collaboration and even funding. Visit: https://allaccessgroup.com

Photo Credit: Shutterstock 

5 Conversation Tools For Nurturing Your Relationship With A Mentor

Kelli Richards December 1, 2014

“This article was originally published on LinkedIn.”

We’ve all longed for a classic mentor-mentee relationship at some point in our careers. We want someone who is savvy and seasoned. We want her to provide the perfect insights and career advice that will help us reach our goals. We want someone who will guide us to our destination.

ID-100211444I’ve been fortunate to have several fantastic mentors during my career at Apple and beyond — and equally as fortunate to have counted Steve Jobs as one of them. These mentors helped me get my MBA, navigate workplace politics, and chart a path to success by bolstering my self-confidence to strike out on my own to forge the unique path I’ve paved for myself.

I recommend anyone who’s just beginning her career to seek a mentor with relevant experiences who can act as a sounding board for ideas; offer feedback, guidance, insights, and wisdom; open doors within established networks; and help you avoid costly career mistakes.

But as with any relationship, you can’t just walk in the door and expect to make an instant deep connection with somebody. Relationships take time to grow. While trust takes time to build, you can use these five powerful conversation tools to make the connection more impactful each time you meet with your mentor.

1. Be reliable. Mutual respect is the foundation of any good relationship and applies to honoring the mentor-mentee relationship, as well. That means being on time and professional for scheduled conversations and meetings, giving your full attention to your mentor when you spend time together, and expressing your sincere thanks at every opportunity. Ideally, you can demonstrate that you’ve acted on your mentor’s counsel and can share your results.

2. Communicate frequently. As a mentee, it’s your responsibility to reach out to your mentor when you need her. You should express your appreciation both verbally and with your actions. Take suggestions to heart, act on them, and send regular notes to communicate your progress and how you’re applying advice. Make it clear that you’re following through so your mentor knows she’s investing her time wisely.

3. Get personal. While the meat of your mentor-mentee relationship will center on lessons you can learn from your mentor’s experience, all good relationships start with active and direct human conversations to build rapport.

Ask your mentor how she spends her free time and what interests her. What does she like to read about, and what topics catch her eye inside and outside of your shared industry? Also, what are her coaches or mentors sharing at the next level that could be instructive?

Insightful questions like these will help you reciprocate within your relationship to send along interesting links she might enjoy. It also allows you to get to know one another on a personal level, which is how you develop trusted relationships that stand the test of time.

4. Tap into hindsight. With her years of experience, it’s likely that your mentor has more insight into your career and industry than you do. Tap into these insights by asking what she would do differently if she were starting over.

Which professional organizations have been worth the investment? Which of her instincts paid off as she navigated the corporate ladder? Her experiences could help you avoid or overcome major pitfalls and challenges and optimize success in your own career.

5. Ask for honesty. Your mentor should always be straightforward with you and never hold anything back, but it’s important that you establish up front that you’re receptive to all types of feedback and that you welcome transparency. She may be the only person in your life who has this type of relationship with you and won’t sugarcoat things or placate you. That honesty will prove invaluable as you progress in your career.

As Antoine de Saint-Exupéry once said, “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” Fortunately, it’s within your power to initiate and develop a relationship with someone who can open doors to the rest: a strategically chosen mentor with valuable experience to share who is willing to shepherd your success and growth.

Until next time,

Kelli Richards

CEO of The All Access Group, LLC

PS: The right mentor should also have the right CONNECTIONS to move you forward. Be sure to ask who they think they can bring to the table around advisorship, possible collaboration and even funding. Visit: https://allaccessgroup.com

Photo Credit: Shutterstock 

The Secret Weapon of Billionaire CEOs and Wildly Successful People

Kelli Richards November 24, 2014

“My article was originally published on LinkedIn”

Picture this: You’ve launched your business, you’re turning a profit, and day-to-day operations are humming along. The company is solid, but you’ve hit a plateau. You know it’s time to take things to the next level, but you’re not sure how best to do it. You haven’t been here before.

If you’ve hit a wall, it might be time to hire a business coach. Sometimes no matter how passionate you are about your business, it takes an outsider’s perspective to see where the company is lacking and identify areas for growth. And that additional insight and shift in perspective can take moments but make a huge difference in your results and the outcome.

ID-100216514Business coaches can give you and your company a fresh perspective and the advantage of experience, but only if you know how to take advantage of what your coach can provide.

What Coaches Bring to the Table 

If you’re unsure about working with a coach, consider that many top CEOs, politicians, and other public figures rely on coaches and mentors for feedback and guidance.

Google’s Eric Schmidt says his best advice to new CEOs is to get a coach, and former Intuit CEO Steve Bennett believes coaches are vital to ongoing professional development. Oprah Winfrey, Bill Clinton, and even Barack Obama have all reported using coaches on a regular basis to advance in their careers.

I myself worked with several mentors at Apple, including the late Steve Jobs. Each taught me important lessons about team-building, collaboration, workplace politics, managing time and priorities, and how to remain confident in the face of challenges.

In addition to all the great professional development advice a coach can provide, she can also give you:

  1. Objective feedback. Being objective about your own company is nearly impossible. You’re so immersed in the day-to-day operations and accustomed to the way things are, you’re probably missing out on ways the business could be better. A coach can offer a fresh take on your strengths and weaknesses as a CEO and on the business as a whole.
  2. A broader network. A good coach can cost as much as a good lawyer, but she’ll instantly prove her worth by connecting you to other powerful people who can help grow your business and advise you on how to leverage and extend your existing network.
  3. Fresh ideas. Good business coaches are people who have a wealth of experience in your industry, which means they will likely have encountered the challenges you currently face — and they understand what’s most critical for you. When you aren’t sure where to take your business next, a coach will often see opportunities you missed.

How to Make the Most of the Relationship 

A coach can do wonderful things for you and your business, but only if you put a lot of effort into the relationship yourself.

Here’s how to empower your coach to help you take your business to the next level:

  1. Take responsibility. Your coach will offer guidance, but it’s up to you to implement her recommendations. Act on her suggestions, and keep her updated on how those strategies are working. Regular communication tells your coach you’re serious about the work you’re doing together. It’s an exchange and collaboration; you must do your part.
  2. Emphasize honesty. No matter how much you might need a pick-me-up, coaches aren’t cheerleaders. You should insist on honest, constructive assessments from your coach at all times. While everyone else might be afraid to tell you the truth about your ideas, your coach may be (and often is) the one person you should be able to count on for honest feedback at all times.
  3. Pick her brain. Your coach can offer a wealth of industry experience, so take advantage of that. Ask her what professional organizations are worth joining, what lessons she’s learned in her own career, and how she achieved her greatest successes. This information helps you understand how you might shape your own career trajectory.

A business coach can be a valuable asset to any executive and leader. A coach can act as a sounding board for new ideas, offer a fresh and honest perspective, and motivate you to take your business to the next level. But ultimately, the success of your business depends on you taking the initiative to work with your coach, being all-in, and making the most of the relationship.

This post was originally published on Inc.com.

A highly sought-after consultant, super-connector, trusted advisor, celebrity wrangler, and thought leader, Kelli Richards is the CEO of The All Access Group. She facilitates strategic business opportunities in digital distribution among innovative technology companies, talent and media companies, and brands to foster new revenue streams and deliver compelling consumer experiences. As a trusted advisor, she transforms the quality of people’s lives. Kelli is also the author of the bestselling e-book “The Magic and Moxie of Apple: An Insider’s View.”

Photo: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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