Choosing a mentor is an important leadership decision. You are not simply hiring a sounding board. You are selecting a thinking partner who will influence how you approach decisions, develop your leadership and sustain performance under pressure. The right choice matters.

A good mentor strengthens your clarity, pace and confidence. The wrong one may waste time and dilute focus.

What to look for in a senior leadership mentor

At senior level, you need more than encouragement. You need someone who understands the weight and complexity of your role. Look for

• A calm and confident presence
• Experience in senior leadership or complex environments
• Maturity and discretion
• Ability to ask clear, thoughtful questions
• Balance of support and intelligent challenge
• Credibility and grounded insight, not theory

A strong mentor helps you think better, not think like them.

Experience and context matter

You will benefit from working with someone who has been close to decision making at scale, experienced organisational pressure and understands how strategy, people and delivery interact.

Sector knowledge can help but is not essential. What matters is their ability to understand complexity, think systemically and hold a senior leader’s perspective.

Chemistry and trust

Fit is as important as capability. You should feel comfortable enough to speak openly, explore uncertainty and reflect on decisions. At the same time, you should feel stretched, not indulged. A good mentor creates safety without softness and challenge without ego.

Ask yourself

• Do I feel heard
• Do I feel stretched in a constructive way
• Does this person help me think clearly
• Do I leave the conversation more focused than when I arrived

If the answer is yes, the chemistry is likely right.

Signs of a credible mentor

Look for subtle but reliable indicators

• They listen more than they speak
• Their questions are simple but powerful
• They do not rush to impress or instruct
• They have a steady, grounded presence
• They do not need to be the expert in the room
• They can work at your pace and your altitude

The right mentor gives you space to think rather than filling the space for you.

The value of a trial session

You will understand more about a mentor in one working session than in any brochure or conversation. A trial gives you insight into how you will think, feel and lead with their support.

The session should feel purposeful, calm and focused. You should leave with clarity and an elevated sense of direction.

If you walk away feeling unsure, explore why. Doubt at the start often becomes inefficiency later.

Avoid choosing only for comfort

It is natural to gravitate toward someone who feels easy to talk to, but the goal is not comfort alone. The goal is better thinking and better leadership. You should feel supported and stretched. That balance is where progress lives.

Final thought

Choosing a mentor is similar to choosing a key advisor or senior partner in your leadership environment. Look for someone who brings clarity, maturity and calm challenge. Someone who helps you see more, think better and act with confidence.

When you find the right fit, mentoring becomes a strategic asset.
It strengthens your leadership, supports your pace and helps you stay clear and steady in moments where clarity matters most.