Reach Out by DIP
One of the things I am really passionate about is making sure that each of us takes the time to help others in their journey. Whether this is serving as a mentor for a budding entrepreneur or helping someone think through their ideas, we all can contribute to the growth of others.
That said, there are many factors that can inhibit what could be termed as direct mentorship, but, as I have alluded to in a past post, we need to expand our purview of where such opportunities can originate. But what can an emerging leader do in the absence of a mentoring figure?
When I asked one of my own mentors who they looked to for wisdom during their amazing career, they replied, “Take a look around you — these books have been my guide.” Sitting in their office among the volumes ranging in subject matter from economics and finance to the inner workings of psychology, it was clear that this person did not wait around for someone to teach them; rather they took the reins of their own development.
So read, and read widely. With the advent of Web 2.0, blogs have been a great way to share ideas or, sometimes more importantly, pose good questions — a hallmark of the wisest advisors. For leaders of emerging companies, I’ll share a fantastic new source. Harvard Business’ Memo to the CEO, which offers access to the insights of world-class leaders and their trusted counsel.
The onus is on ourselves to develop and if we are fortunate, others will help along the way. It may seem an odd way to start, but you can begin by giving a portion of your time to someone else, as our own knowledge is often tested and expanded by that act of teaching others.