The Value of Internal Mentoring

People often ask me about finding the best mentor. My advice, if you work in an organization of any size is that there is value in finding a mentor who has been successful where you are (there are many other benefits to having mentors outside of the organization but that is for another post).

When you find someone who has been successful where you are, you get more than the skill development that comes from a typical mentoring relationship. These connections are about more than building skills, they are also about organizational culture and landscape too. When you work with someone who has had some success in your organization and knows how to navigate within your culture, you gain an additional perspective. Your mentor can then guide you successfully within the structure of your company.

If your organization does not have a formal mentoring program, you can seek out someone to serve as your guide – keeping in mind that you want someone who is interested in your development - as well as the success of the organization as a whole.


If you have read this post from the perspective of being a mentor, rather than being mentored, you might enjoy reading my article, Nine Reasons Why Mentoring Matters to You.

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