D is for…

Do
You can have plenty of conversations with mentors and your wider network but all of the advice counts for nothing if you don’t apply it. Make sure that you take action; work out not just what you are going to listen to or say you’ll commit to but what you actually intend to do.

Diverse Ideas
Get ideas from different people who have different perspectives and experiences to draw from. Make sure that you are able to get out of the bubble of people who think like you so that you can draw on a range of solutions. You are looking for new ideas, at least to challenge the conventional wisdom if not replace it.

D is also for…

Divide

Diverse ideas will lead to different schools of thought and divided opinion. That is absolutely fine. Your job is to assess the different advice you are offered and decide on the course of action that is right for you. Which leads naturally on to…

Decisiveness

Commit to a course of action once you have worked out the best route for you. Yes, you should always assess progress and impact but constantly shifting between different approaches will not move you forward.

Delegate

A good support network will help you to recognise your strengths but also what you are not so good at. Listen to them if they suggest delegating certain tasks so that you can focus on making the most of your ability.

Drive

Renee Binyon says ‘sometimes as a mentor, you just have to push ’em!’. I thoroughly agree but the responsibility to drive the relationship lies with the mentee as much as the mentor.

Daring

Mentors and other supporters can give you the courage to take big steps forward, daring to try new things that you might not feel confident about pursuing on your own.

Dedication

Give it time! Repay your supporters’ investment in you by not giving in at the first hurdle.

Many thanks to my own network for contributing to this instalment. Your Mentoring, Masterminding and Asking for Help D’s came from…
Guy Clapperton, Renee Binyon, Jacqui Byland and Paul Eaton.