Making the Most of Mentoring (3 of 5)

Lesson 3: How to Engage People Before You
Avoid these first steps when engaging a person before you:

Using the word “mentor”
Setting up a coffee, informational interview, or meeting to “pick their brain”
Making an immediate ask

Rather, start here:

Study the person’s work
Reach out to tell them something you really like and what you plan to do
Once you have a result, let them know what worked — and what didn’t
Don’t except them to do work or to respond

The goal isn’t to GET a mentor. The goal is to benefit FROM mentoring.
Three more hacks with influential people:

Help them out with something they are working on right now
Consider following virtual mentors to supplement your learning
Always be ready for the, “What can I do for you?” question.

Try honestly to see things from the other person’s point of view. -Dale Carnegie
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Resources

How to Win Friends and Influence People* by Dale Carnegie

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