Getting Things Done

One of the things that mentors know that you need to know is how to get things done. Skills that you need to be successful are sometimes thought of as an iceberg. Ten percent of what you need to know (the tip of the iceberg) is what you learn in college. Ninety percent of what you need to know (what’s below the surface of the iceberg) is something you need to learn after college. Your mentor can help you learn that ninety percent.

Here’s how to use your mentor to learn what you need to know to get things done.

1. Identify those things you begin to realize that you need to know. These are things that are holding you back (e.g., gaining acceptance for your ideas).
2. Ask your mentor to help you learn the things you identified in step (1) above. The best way to do this is to take a live situation. This way your mentor can guide you step by step as situations unfold.
3. Once the situation in step (2) has concluded, sit down with your mentor and do a lessons learned review. By doing this, you can step back and see what you did well and what you could do better the next time.
4. Continue steps (1-3) for other things that are critical to your future success.

The process outlined here is simple in its structure, but without some system of learning the “bottom of the iceberg,” you will unlikely have the career success you want.