{"id":1727,"date":"2015-10-07T21:14:11","date_gmt":"2015-10-07T21:14:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/leadershipshape.com\/wardroom\/?p=1727"},"modified":"2015-10-25T21:15:03","modified_gmt":"2015-10-25T21:15:03","slug":"why-it-pays-to-identify-and-approach-mentors-in-the-professional-cafeteria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/leadershipshape.com\/wardroom\/why-it-pays-to-identify-and-approach-mentors-in-the-professional-cafeteria\/","title":{"rendered":"Why It Pays to Identify and Approach Mentors in the Professional ‘Cafeteria’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u00a0\"Kelli<\/a><\/p>\n
KELLI RICHARDS<\/div>\n
CONTRIBUTOR<\/div>\n
CEO at All Access Group<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

At times, the workplace “cafeteria” resembles a middle-school lunchroom, with heightened stakes and competitors striving for power in lieu of popularity. Who sits where, and why?<\/p>\n

Related:\u00a0How to Get the Most Out of Having a Mentor<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s all rather intimidating. But engaging with the top of the food chain,\u00a0or \u201cmanaging up,\u201d in your own company or industry\u00a0is easier when someone trustworthy and approachable forges a trail first. For some professionals, this means engaging a mentor.<\/p>\n

Before pursuing that relationship, however, confirm that your potential mentor is the master of his or her trade, with a great reputation, a proven record of success and a powerful, credible brand.\u00a0The strongest mentors are fearless communicators\u00a0with access to the power base of an organization. They\u2019re visible to everyone, including the CEO. With connections to major influencers, a mentor can open doors to relationships and experiences that likely wouldn\u2019t be possible otherwise — or would take years to develop.<\/p>\n

Steve Jobs, a perfect example of this type of leader, was one of a handful of influential mentors for me. Although we didn\u2019t seek each other out and came together by chance, Jobs, as a well-known innovator, greatly assisted me throughout my career.<\/p>\n

Making the first move<\/strong><\/h2>\n

An experienced mentor can help navigate political land mines by serving as a role model and sounding board to support a mentee\u2019s success. Here are three tips for finding the right one:<\/p>\n