I often advise the people I meet who are looking to advance their careers (or get their careers back on track), to get a mentor. I have been very fortunate in my career to have been supported by some great mentors. But what’s so great about having a mentor?

It is all too easy to subconsciously seek counsel from someone who you know will give you the affirmation you want. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes we all need to ‘vent’ to someone, but a great mentor will not just listen and agree, they will challenge you.

Mentors help create discipline and boundaries.They keep you on track. Anyone can to set a goal or target and lose focus.Knowing you are accountable to someone, you respect, will ensure you stay focused.

Being challenged by your mentor, is essential to your personal growth and development.They take you out of your comfort zone and help you develop yourself much quicker than you would by yourself.

If you are looking to advance yourself, it is likely that it is not going to be easy and will potentially involve some risks that might not always pay off.No matter how hard things might get in your world, your mentor will always remain a pillar of strength and unwavering support to you.

In the world of work, knowing whom to trust can be a very difficult decision to make.A great mentor will be your trusted advisor, someone with whom you can share your vulnerabilities, without fear of them being used against you.

Having an advocate in the the world of work, who genuinely wants you to succeed, is a big positive in your favour.Knowing someone ‘has your back’ will give you an edge.

A good mentor will always leave you feeling energised and positive. They will have a knack of adjusting your mood and getting you back into being productive and positive, in no time.

It can be a challenge to find a mentor. My advice would be to seek out someone whom you respect and take the bold move of asking them. Not everyone will have the time to spare, but you will never know until you ask….