HBR Guide to Guide to Getting the Mentoring You Need

Stuck in a career rut? Maybe you’re itching to broaden your skills and take on new challenges. Or perhaps you’re eyeing a management role a level or two up. So how do you grow and advance professionally? Not by waiting for senior managers to notice you and “bring you along.” You’ll be sorely disappointed by how long that takes, if it ever happens. The key is effective mentoring—and it’s up to you to go get it. Done right, mentoring is one of the most powerful, efficient ways to learn and to move up. But to reap those rewards, you need to pursue them with rigor and commitment. This guide will show you how. You’ll get better at:

• Spelling out clear, realistic goals
• Attracting influential sponsors
• Forging strong bonds with your mentors
• Gauging your progress
• Giving back to your mentors so they’ll give more to you
• Building a diverse “development network,”
• Learning from junior upstarts and sage executives.

Articles in this collection: ""The Relationship You Need to Get Right,"" ""Mentoring in All Its Shapes and Sizes,"" ""What Kinds of Mentors Do You Need—and How Do You Find Them?"" ""Starting and Maintaining Relationships with Mentors,"" ""How to Get More from Your Mentors,"" ""Employ a Personal Board of Directors,"" ""A Smarter Way to Network,"" ""Accelerate Your Development: Tips for Millennials Who Need Mentoring,"" ""Mentoring for Gen Xers: What You Need and How to Get It,"" ""Seasoned Professional? Keep Learning from Your Proteges—and Get Over Yourself.""

Harvard Business Review Guides are for busy professionals looking for quick answers to common challenges. They’re packed with useful tips and practical advice in a brief, easy-to-read format. Whether you’re looking to expand your skills or refresh your existing ones, these guides offer reliable answers to your most pressing problems.