A mentor does more than coach you. The sessions will normally be confidential and take place by phone or meeting somewhere convenient and private.

Your mentor will help identify your development needs, give advice, open doors and help you to think through issues and problems. They will also ask you for feedback as regards what has changed since the previous session and remind you of ideas and suggestions raised previously. This form of tailored, personalised mentoring is, by definition, far more effective than conventional generic personal development courses.  The key characteristics to look for in a mentor are: Someone who will give you quality time, is empathetic, can spot unusual but effective synergies for you, can open doors and make connections, will give you independent advice and a fresh perspective – and whose judgement you can trust.

Ask your firm about mentoring.  You may be able to identify a suitably experienced and capable partner with whom you have a good relationship.  You’ll also want to be comfortable that they have the time, talent and training to do more than merely make encouraging noises.  The other option would be for your firm to engage a credible, independent and experienced mentor to provide the necessary guidance and support.