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How to Choose a Great Mentor

Woman on laptop - how to choose a mentor - Ruffle Mentoring

“A Mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself ” – Oprah Winfrey

Do you feel you have to do it all on your own? Have you thought of choosing the right mentor for you to support you on your path?

Many people believe that they have to learn and grow on their own, but fail to realise that hard work is merely the first step to success.

For those who need a push in the right direction, a mentor can be life-changing. By imparting knowledge, expertise and wisdom, mentorships have proven to be one of the most valuable and effective ways to develop new skills and foster personal and professional growth.

Today, more and more people are seeing the benefits of working with mentors to realise their dreams and achieve their goals. Choosing the right mentor for you is an important part of this.

Whether you are looking for guidance on how to grow your business, or simply want to refine your communication skills, there is a mentor out there for everyone.

But where do you begin? How do you find the best fit for you? While it might feel overwhelming at first, there are a number of ways to ensure you choose the right mentor for your needs. In this post, we will outline how to find a professional mentor suited to your needs, desires and goals.

What is a Mentor?

Whether you are a first-time entrepreneur or an individual with years of experience, we all need guidance and assistance from time to time. A mentor is a seasoned professional, who has experience and knowledge of the path you’re trying to take and can offer support and guidance along the way. Mentors typically provide consultation and advice on a variety of topics, usually regarding how to improve your performance at work or achieve set goals, such as financial freedom or improved confidence.


A mentor is someone who will help you attain success by guiding your growth and development through sharing their experiences both professionally and personally and what has, and has not, worked for them. They act as a sounding board, allowing you to test ideas and strategies before putting them into action.


A professional mentor will work to get to know you, your goals and the challenges you are facing to help you find the right solutions. As such, every mentoring relationship is unique. While some mentorships only last until a goal is achieved some mentors have the potential to become a long-term support person.

Finding A Professional Mentor

Mentors work to help you grow and become the best version of yourself as an individual and professional. This may involve creating steps to achieve your goals, introducing new ways of thinking, challenging your limiting assumptions, sharing life lessons, experiences and more.

Here are some factors to consider when choosing the right professional mentor:

1. Understanding Your Goals

The first step in choosing the right mentor is understanding your goals and what you are looking to accomplish – both long term and short term. The more specific you are with your goals, the easier it will be to identify a professional mentor who can help you achieve them.

For instance, if you are looking to build and grow your business, you should consider establishing what areas of growth or development you need assistance with. Do you need guidance on how to make the best use of your time? Or do you lack confidence and communication skills?

Without a clear goal in mind, you may find that your search for a mentor is unfocused and disjointed, resulting in you finding the wrong fit for your needs.

2. Research to Find the Right Mentor

Once you have a clear understanding of your goals, it’s time to find a professional mentor who can help you achieve those goals! Professional mentors can be found anywhere, and online directories and platforms have made this easier than ever before.

In addition to using your network, professional networks such as Ruffle Mentoring provide a great place to start searching for a mentor within your desired industry or profession.

Offering their industry, expertise and ratings from previous clients, it’s easy to get a feel for the advice they can offer.

3. Look For A Different Perspective

The right professional mentor should be willing to help you achieve your goals, so it is important that you choose someone who has experience in the field you are looking to work in.

However, it is also important to choose a mentor who can offer a fresh and different perspective to one that you are used to, giving you the opportunity to learn new skills and gain the knowledge you otherwise wouldn’t acquire.

4. Be Specific When Finding the Right Mentor

When looking for a professional mentor, it is crucial to be specific. Having a potential mentor fully understand what you want to work towards can help both parties determine whether you are the best fit to work together.

5. Mentor Vs Sponsor

Lastly, it is important to understand the difference between a mentor and a sponsor. Where a mentor offers guidance, advice and support to help you achieve your goals, a sponsor is someone who provides advice in a professional setting through promotions, new positions and networking. Mentors are there to offer insight, so you may work towards and achieve your goals on your own.

Find Your Mentor Today

Ruffle Mentoring can help you connect with a successful female mentor who is right for you and your goals. 

Our growing platform makes it easy to find someone with the skills, experience and knowledge that you need to help you realise your potential.

Get started today and take the first step towards achieving your leadership goals!

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How to Choose a Great Mentor

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