Page 41 - Roy W. Rice - CEO Material How to Be a Leader in Any Organization-McGraw-Hill (2009)

22 • CEO Material: How to Be a Leader in Any Organization

internally. Again, this is why you have multiple mentors—inside and
outside the company, your town, your industry, your country.
If you wonder why a gifted person would be willing to mentor you,
it’s because he or she remembers the value he or she received from people
along the way and wants to give back and contribute. Smart people know
that teaching is also a good way to learn. Accomplished people want to
make a difference and feel honored when you care about what they say
and think. (If you never ask for help, they don’t have that chance to feel
good.) Leaders know that mentorship is part of their job.
If the person you ask hesitates, don’t take offense; he or she may
have limited time, may fear not being available to help, may be looking
for his or her own mentor, or in the extreme, may be cautious about any
legal exposure.
If the mentor you select agrees, give him or her a brief story about
yourself at the start. Don’t assume that he or she has your résumé tattooed
on his or her forearm; you have to let your mentor know what you’re
doing, have done, and want to do. One executive had been working in a
company over four years, had been promoted twice, but wanted more, so
she stopped into her mentor’s office and reviewed with him the things
she had done and done well. The mentor said, “I didn’t know you did all
that. You need to be into... I’ll help.”
Contact the individual’s assistant, and check when you can get some
time to talk on the phone (you don’t have to be face to face). Make it easy
for your mentor to help by being considerate of his or her time and schedule.
When you speak with the person, clearly but briefly explain the situation
you need his or her thoughts on, what you’ve done, and what you’re con-
sidering doing. “I have a situation. . .Here’s what I think about it.” Then
ask what he or she thinks and would recommend.
You want to demonstrate that you’ve done work on the issue before
coming for help.
Listen deeply. Ask questions for clarification. Don’t be so in awe of
your mentor that you don’t push back or question his or her thinking.
Consider his or her advice, and decide what to do.
Your obligation to your mentors is to be honest and provide full dis-
closure. Tell him or her what happened. Tell him or her why you did or
didn’t follow his or her advice. If you ever have to deliver some bad news