Want to Grow as a Leader? Get a Mentor!

One of the reasons that Garrison agreed to become Tilling's mentor was because he appreciated Instill's business model. "You have to believe in the business. Otherwise, you're helping to train an athlete in a race that goes nowhere."

Make Sure You Share Values

Garrison has been surprised and pleased to become friends with Tilling. "We have connected on a personal level, and he is a delight. He's a great human being, very smart and fun to be with." Although Garrison doesn't think that mentors need to be best friends with their mentees, he does think that both partners should feel simpatico on some level. So if there's not a basic understanding, don't try to be a mentor. You won't do a good job.

Understand the Rewards

As a CEO and a board member at two other companies, Garrison is a busy guy. But he says that being a mentor to Tilling has been deeply rewarding. "If you can help people develop a skill set, then you can take immense personal satisfaction when they do a good job. In a board setting, you are one of 7 to 10 people, as opposed to being in a one-on-one situation." In a mentoring situation, he says, the question is, "How can I help this person train himself to be even more of a winner?"

Contact David Garrison by email (david_garrison@verestar.com).