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Who You're Following Influences Your Leadership

July 31, 2023
A group of people following a leader

As you navigate through life, you need people who can play the role of guide. They have experience and insight that you can learn from. They offer perspective as someone who has traveled the path before. You may have one key person who plays this role for your whole life. But most likely, you will have a team of people who each play different roles in different seasons.

Some of these relationships will be more casual and form through the connections you have, while others will be more formal as you seek them out and may even compensate them for their guidance.

Let’s look at three kinds of guides: advisors, coaches, and mentors.

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Advisors

An advisor offers guidance based on their expertise. It tends to be focused on one area, such as family, career, finances, health, or relationships. Most of these won’t be regular, ongoing relationships but will help you in a specific area for a particular season. While you can google anything, you can’t become experts in everything. That is why you want to develop a network of people who can advise you in their area of expertise. That’s why I would even put real estate agents, doctors, and lawyers in this category.

Examples of advisors you want to build proximity to:

  1. Financial advisor
  2. Career counselor
  3. Lawyer
  4. Doctor
  5. Real estate agent
  6. Nutritionist
  7. Marriage and family counselor
I find it helpful to go to an advisor when I’m starting something new, making a big decision, or correcting a problem.

Most advisors will cost money, which can feel like a barrier leading you back to just googling for answers. Consider the return on investment. I can spend a few nights reading blogs and articles about investing and then trying my hand at the stock market. But I’m probably better off paying $100 for an hour of guidance to someone who has thousands of hours of experience. I find it helpful to go to an advisor when I’m starting something new, making a big decision, or correcting a problem.

Have you ever watched a video on YouTube and decided you could fix the leaky toilet? Only to later be sitting in the bathroom with water spraying everywhere, thinking, “This is not how it looked in the video!” Advisors have experienced when things go off the rails, and they can offer great advice for you to get back on track.

Often, the advisor helps you establish a healthy baseline and take the next step in a given area. When I think of a financial advisor, I’m not trying to become the next Warren Buffet, but I would like to establish our finances so that our family can make memories through annual vacations. Similarly, I might seek someone to advise me on fitness or nutrition to maintain a healthy weight and strength. If I wanted to win a marathon, I might need something more, which brings us to the next role, the coach.

Coaches

Like advisors, coaches have deep expertise in a specific area, and your proximity to them helps you grow. Coaches tend to be more hands-on, and your engagement with them is more ongoing than with an advisor.

One way to think of coaches is as personalized consultants.

If I’m looking to make a career change, I may go to an advisor and get help identifying good career options and updating my resume. And that may be all I need. But what if I want to practice and feedback to improve my interviewing skills? Or if I want help adapting my resume to specific jobs? That sounds more like a coaching role. One way to think of coaches is as personalized consultants. Which does mean you’re likely paying for them. And there can be some sticker shock here, but again consider the return on investment. If that career coach helps you land the right job, they more than pay for themself through your increased salary, not to mention your improved job satisfaction!

Common types of coaches:

  1. Personal trainer
  2. Executive coach
  3. Leadership coach
  4. Life coach
  5. Career coach

The line between advisors and coaches has blurred a bit over the past ten years. Many of those who have traditionally been advisors have upped their game and taken more of a coaching approach. But I still believe there is a distinct role of a coach, positioned between an advisor and a mentor. If you're thinking you want to try out having a coach, I'm currently offering a handful of coaching opportunities each month.

Mentors

While a coach or an advisor can look similar, a mentor is different. It is usually a longer-term relationship, but the interaction isn’t as dense. It’s spread out over time. Your mentorship may be focused on a particular aspect of your life (family, career, spiritual, economic), or it may be more broad, flowing through all these areas. Also, you usually aren’t paying for a mentor!

One change that catches people off guard is that the mentee actually does more to guide the process than they do when working with a coach or advisor. While the relationship is mutual, the mentee is likely to drive the process to establish a regular cadence when connecting, as well as what content they’ll connect on. It’s essential to have good communication early on to set expectations for both the mentor and mentee.

While the relationship is mutual, the mentee is likely to drive the process to establish a regular cadence when connecting, as well as what content they’ll connect on

As you’re establishing expectations, you’ll want to identify what will be the right cadence to connect with your mentor. It could be weekly, monthly, or quarterly. It can also change in certain seasons of life where more guidance is needed.

What if you don’t know anyone who would be a good mentor? Where do you find one? Finding a mentor can feel like a daunting task. Here are three steps.

  1. Adjust your expectations. You’re not looking for Yoda, who will make you the best Jedi to save the whole galaxy. You’re looking for someone who has walked before some of the roads you are now walking on.
  2. Look for formal programs. Your employer may have a mentoring program already set up. Look up professional associations or even churches in your area. They often have mentoring programs established. As a PMI member in Austin, I quickly took advantage of their mentorship program to connect with someone who had been in project management longer and in different contexts than myself.
  3. Start searching. Depending on the kind of mentorship, start looking around and ask someone to be your mentor. Even if you don’t know them well, you can still ask. People will feel honored. If you (or they) aren’t sure if you’ll be a good match, try it out for a while. Ask if they would be willing to meet once a month for a year and then evaluate. Think through ahead of time what your expectations are and communicate them when you ask. Someone who might make a great mentor may say “no” because they aren’t clear about what you’re asking of them.

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Action Plan

We’re all on a journey in our leadership. As you consider who you’re following, take time to reflect on who you’re guiding and who you’re journeying with. Want to try having a coach? Check out an opportunity to have a free coaching appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Team Leadership

What is team leadership?

Team leadership is a management approach focused on leading and guiding a group of individuals working together towards a common goal. A team leader is responsible for providing direction, support, and guidance to the team members, while fostering a positive and productive work environment.

Team leadership involves setting clear goals and expectations for the team, communicating effectively, and building trust and relationships with team members. It also involves empowering team members to take ownership of their work and contribute their unique skills and perspectives to the team's success.

Some key characteristics of effective team leadership include:

  1. Communication: Team leaders communicate clearly and effectively with their team members, keeping them informed about goals, expectations, and progress.
  2. Vision and strategy: Effective team leaders have a clear vision for what they want to achieve and a strategy for how to get there, while also being flexible and adaptable when necessary.
  3. Empowerment: Good team leaders empower their team members to make decisions and take ownership of their work, while also providing support and guidance as needed.
  4. Trust-building: Team leaders build trust and strong relationships with their team members, creating a positive and productive work environment.
  5. Results-oriented: Finally, effective team leaders are results-oriented, focusing on achieving goals and driving performance while also valuing the well-being and development of their team members.

Overall, team leadership is a collaborative and empowering approach to management that values communication, trust-building, and results-driven performance.

Learn more about leadership.

What are the different styles of team leadership?

There are several different styles of team leadership, including:

  1. Democratic leadership: In this style, the leader encourages open communication and participation from all team members in decision-making processes.
  2. Autocratic leadership: This style involves the leader making decisions and taking control over the team's direction, often with little input from team members.
  3. Transformational leadership: This style focuses on inspiring and motivating team members to achieve their full potential, often by setting a clear vision and communicating goals effectively.
  4. Servant leadership: A servant leader prioritizes the needs of their team members, focusing on serving and empowering them to achieve their goals.
  5. Laissez-faire leadership: In this style, the leader provides minimal guidance or direction, allowing team members to take ownership of their work and make decisions independently.
  6. Transactional leadership: This style involves setting clear goals and expectations for team members and providing rewards or discipline based on performance.
  7. Situational leadership: This approach involves adapting one's leadership style to fit the specific situation or needs of the team at any given time.

Overall, each style of team leadership has its own strengths and weaknesses, and effective leaders may use a combination of different styles depending on the situation and the needs of their team.

Learn more about leadership.

What are the different skills required for team leadership?

There are several key skills required for effective team leadership, including:

  1. Clear: Team leaders must be to communicate effectively with their team members, setting clear expectations and goals, providing feedback, and keeping everyone informed about progress and changes.
  2. Active listening: Leaders need to be able to listen actively to their team members, hear their concerns, ideas, and suggestions, and work collaboratively to find solutions.
  3. Empathy: Good team leaders value empathy, recognizing and understanding the perspectives of their team members, and working to build trust and strong relationships
  4. Decision-making: Leaders must be able to make informed decisions based on available information and input from team members, while also being decisive when necessary.
  5. Problem-solving: Effective team leaders must be able to identify and solve problems that arise within the team, working collaboratively to find creative and effective solutions.
  6. Motivation and empowerment: Leaders must be able to motivate and empower their team members to take ownership of their work, overcome challenges, and achieve their full potential.
  7. Delegation and management: Team leaders must be able to delegate tasks effectively, manage resources and timelines, and oversee the work of the team to ensure quality and efficiency.

Overall, effective team leadership requires a combination of interpersonal, decision-making, and management skills, as well as the ability to inspire and empower team members to work collaboratively towards shared goals.

Learn more about leadership.

What is servant leadership?

Servant leadership is a leadership philosophy and management style that emphasizes the importance of serving others first before considering one's own needs and desires. It's an approach to leadership that focuses on the well-being and growth of others, rather than solely on achieving organizational goals.

A servant leader prioritizes the needs of their followers or team members, providing them with support, guidance, and mentorship. They are committed to empowering their team members to reach their full potential and achieve their goals.

Some common characteristics of servant leaders include:

  1. Empathy: Servant leaders value empathy, placing themselves in the shoes of their followers to better understand their needs and motivations.
  2. Listening: They are active listeners, taking the time to listen to their followers' concerns, feedback, and ideas.
  3. Commitment to development: Servant leaders prioritize the growth and development of their followers, providing opportunities for learning and development.
  4. Humility: They recognize their own limitations and seek input from others to make informed decisions.
  5. Stewardship: Servant leaders view themselves as stewards of their organization, working to create a positive impact for all stakeholders.

Overall, servant leadership is about creating a supportive and empowering environment for others to thrive. By prioritizing the needs of their followers, a servant leader can inspire trust, loyalty, and commitment, ultimately leading to better outcomes for the organization as a whole.

Learn more about how to cultivate servant leadership.

Servant Leadership

What is servant leadership?

Servant leadership is a leadership philosophy and management style that emphasizes the importance of serving others first before considering one's own needs and desires. It's an approach to leadership that focuses on the well-being and growth of others, rather than solely on achieving organizational goals.

A servant leader prioritizes the needs of their followers or team members, providing them with support, guidance, and mentorship. They are committed to empowering their team members to reach their full potential and achieve their goals.

Some common characteristics of servant leaders include:

  1. Empathy: Servant leaders value empathy, placing themselves in the shoes of their followers to better understand their needs and motivations.
  2. Listening: They are active listeners, taking the time to listen to their followers' concerns, feedback, and ideas.
  3. Commitment to development: Servant leaders prioritize the growth and development of their followers, providing opportunities for learning and development.
  4. Humility: They recognize their own limitations and seek input from others to make informed decisions.
  5. Stewardship: Servant leaders view themselves as stewards of their organization, working to create a positive impact for all stakeholders.

Overall, servant leadership is about creating a supportive and empowering environment for others to thrive. By prioritizing the needs of their followers, a servant leader can inspire trust, loyalty, and commitment, ultimately leading to better outcomes for the organization as a whole.

Learn more about how to cultivate servant leadership.

How can servant leadership be beneficial in the workplace?

Servant leadership can be beneficial in the workplace in a number of ways, including:

  1. Improved employee engagement and job satisfaction: When employees feel supported, valued, and empowered by their leaders, they tend to be more engaged and satisfied with their work.
  2. Increased collaboration and teamwork: Servant leaders prioritize communication, collaboration, and trust-building, which can lead to stronger relationships and more effective teamwork.
  3. Higher levels of productivity and innovation: When leaders empower their team members to take ownership of their work and contribute their ideas, it can lead to higher levels of productivity and innovation.
  4. Reduced turnover and absenteeism: Employees who feel supported and valued are less likely to leave their jobs or call in sick, leading to reduced turnover and absenteeism rates.
  5. Improved organizational culture: Servant leadership can create a positive organizational culture that values growth, development, and well-being for all stakeholders, which can lead to improved morale and outcomes.

Overall, servant leadership can lead to a more positive, productive, and fulfilling workplace environment, benefiting both employees and the organization as a whole.

Learn more about how to cultivate servant leadership.

How does servant leadership differ from other leadership styles?

Servant leadership differs from many other leadership styles in several key ways:

  1. Focus on serving others: Servant leaders prioritize the needs and well-being of their followers over their own interests, while many other leadership styles focus more on achieving organizational goals.
  2. Empathy and listening skills: Servant leaders value empathy and active listening skills to better understand the needs and perspectives of their followers, while some other leadership styles may be more focused on asserting authority or making decisions without input from others.
  3. Collaboration and teamwork: Servant leaders prioritize collaboration and teamwork, seeking to empower and develop their followers to achieve their full potential, while other leadership styles may be more focused on competition or individual achievement.
  4. Humility and accountability: Servant leaders view themselves as stewards of their organization, prioritizing the well-being of all stakeholders and taking responsibility for their decisions, while some other leadership styles may be more focused on personal ambition or avoiding blame.

Overall, servant leadership is characterized by a focus on serving others, prioritizing empathy and collaboration, and taking a humble and accountable approach to leadership. While other leadership styles may be effective in different contexts, servant leadership can be a powerful tool for creating positive change and empowering others to reach their full potential.

Learn more about how to cultivate servant leadership.

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