The chapter Connecting in How Remarkable Women Lead threw up some challenges for me. I'd always though of myself as a good connector, in that I place value, and therefore time and energy, on building relationships and nurturing friends (in the best way I know how - not saying I am perfect at it) is something I work hard at. As I read the chapter though, it was clear that there was an element of connection that was absent from my life - that of people from whom I draw energy, support and wisdom from in my professional life in a formal way.
At first, this made me really uncomfortable. I don't like asking favours of others and I like relationships to be reciprocal - so the concept of a mentor felt too one way for me. However, reading more about mentoring, the benefits for both parties as well as how it belongs to the pay-it-forward model I believe in, I began to rethink. I also began to feel that the act of 'taking' from others would actually be good for me too, as life is give and take. So, in February, when I began a process of finding my 'what next', I set out to find myself a mentor, someone who could help m develop and have a positive impact. I brazenly approached a woman who I had only once met before, but who a) energised and inspired me by who she was in that meeting and b) whose career path and job also inspired me and made me think if or how I might make similar moves. To my delight she agreed.
At first, this made me really uncomfortable. I don't like asking favours of others and I like relationships to be reciprocal - so the concept of a mentor felt too one way for me. However, reading more about mentoring, the benefits for both parties as well as how it belongs to the pay-it-forward model I believe in, I began to rethink. I also began to feel that the act of 'taking' from others would actually be good for me too, as life is give and take. So, in February, when I began a process of finding my 'what next', I set out to find myself a mentor, someone who could help m develop and have a positive impact. I brazenly approached a woman who I had only once met before, but who a) energised and inspired me by who she was in that meeting and b) whose career path and job also inspired me and made me think if or how I might make similar moves. To my delight she agreed.