You might recognize that you have been successful, but that you need help to leverage this success for continuing career mobility. A relationship with a coach or mentor, someone who either knows your industry or has a broad view of how to improve performance, might be just what you need. Coaches are different from mentors, even though these terms are often used interchangeably. Their customary approach is to conduct a personal assessment and use this information to assist their clients in establishing goals. These goals can cover areas such as time management, communication effectiveness, dealing with a difficult boss or colleague, learning how to improve team play, getting the most out of a staff and correcting a dysfunctional behavior.
Mentors work on a slightly different playing field.
They focus on grooming their prot g s for their next positions, which might even be the ones the mentors themselves are preparing to leave. Their training comes from practical experience, and they use the secrets of the business or the inside story of the industry as their primary tools. They might even make the proper introductions so that their mentees attend the right events and establish relationships with other influential professionals. Some companies set up fast trackers with in-house mentors. If such a program in unavailable in your workplace, look for a mentor among your managers or in your professional association.