With the new challenges in today's work world, working professionals need to take charge of their careers. They need to own their developments. Professionals need to be more proactive and initiate helping relationships. They need to build their mentor network in order to succeed in the new environment.

Today's proactive mentees initiate mentoring relationships and acquire multiple mentors. They are very focused on their development and career goals, and they actively manage the mentoring relationships.

Proactive Mentees Initiate Mentoring Relationships

In the past, mentors did the choosing. Now, mentees are initiating relationships. They are seeking out people who are successful in their careers, mentors whose background, skills and experience match their own development needs. "I've always been very proactive about making contact with people I could learn from," says Linda Hoffman, managing partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers. "When I meet someone I can learn from, I build a relationship."

Proactive Mentees Seek Multiple Mentoring Relationships

Mentees today are seeking multiple mentors for different goals and different development needs. Nevertheless, many people are still looking for that one "nirvana" mentor, the one who can meet every need. But that person doesn't exist. Instead, you should build a network of mentors from whom you can learn. "It's important to have mentoring relationships with a number of people," says Hoffman. This strategy has paid off in her career: She was one of the youngest people ever to be promoted to partner in her firm.

Proactive Mentees Focus on Goals

Mentees today set development and career goals. Mentoring is focused on those goals, with an emphasis on specific things that mentees can do to reach them. Therefore, mentoring relationships are generally practical and focused on learning that can be applied right away. The timeframe for mentoring is shorter than in the past, and mentoring relationships last months rather than years.

Proactive Mentees Manage the Relationship

Proactive mentees are active participants in the mentoring process. In fact, they drive the relationships from beginning to end. After all, it is their development and they want to get their needs met. They ask questions and seek specific assistance. They also track their progress and determine what they need next. It's important to realize that you get out of the mentoring relationship what you put into it.

Assess Yourself

Are you ready for the challenge? Do you have what it takes to become a proactive mentee? You need to be ready to enter into a mentoring relationship. According to Carlene Ellis, vice president of education at Intel, "the mere acquisition of a mentor will not help unless you're ready to be mentored." Successful mentees have a number of characteristics.

Proactive mentees have clearly defined development goals to help them reach their career goals. They can clearly communicate their goals to their mentors.

Proactive mentees are assertive. They aren't afraid to initiate mentoring relationships and ask for the help they need. They are active participants in the mentoring partnership.

Proactive mentees are willing to accept a mentor's help. They are willing to trust, open up and take direction.

Proactive mentees are good listeners. They listen with open minds and are willing to try out new ideas. They listen attentively and ask questions to clarify what was said.

Proactive mentees can accept constructive feedback. They are not threatened by feedback; instead, they see it as a gift. They are able to hear the feedback, assess it objectively, and determine what actions they need to take.

Proactive mentees follow through with commitments. They can be counted on to do what they say they will do. They follow through by returning phone calls, showing up for meetings and completing assignments.

Proactive mentees show appreciation toward their mentors through their words or by sending notes or small gifts. They are also able to share credit with their mentors for accomplishments and give back to their mentors by offering help.

Proactive mentees are self-confident. They believe in their own abilities and are willing to admit their weaknesses. Their confidence allows them to ask for help, accept feedback, and share credit.

Excerpt with permission of the publishers from Connecting with Success: How to Build a Mentoring Network to Fast-Forward Your Career by Kathleen Barton.