In this episode of Connected Leadership Bytes, Lisa Fane, CEO of the Center for Mentoring Excellence, and her colleague Michelle Hancock interview Andy Lopata.

They discuss the importance of professional relationships, networking, and mentoring. Focusing on building authentic connections, understanding the difference between networking and professional relationships, and the concept of a personal board of advisors. Andy shares strategies for maintaining professional networks, the role of vulnerability in mentorship and the impact of remote work on mentoring and professional relationships. He emphasises the importance of consistency and frequency in building connections and offers insights into evolving mentoring practices in the modern workplace.

Key Takeaways

1. Reframing Networking: Shifting the perception of “networking” to “professional relationship strategy.” Focus on building genuine, long-term relationships based on mutual respect and trust.
2. The Power of Personal Boards of Advisors (Mastermind Groups): Crucial for leveraging diverse expertise and perspectives, this peer-to-peer mentoring approach offers invaluable support, guidance, and problem-solving capabilities. Regular meetings are key.
3. The Seven Stages of Professional Relationships: Andy highlights a model (detailed in his book Connected Leadership) outlining seven stages of relationship development. Focusing on strengthening relationships in the middle stages (where rapport and trust exist but advocacy hasn’t fully developed) is more effective than constantly seeking new connections.
4. Vulnerability and Trust: Authentic professional relationships require vulnerability from both the mentor and mentee. Sharing struggles, mistakes, and doubts builds stronger connections and increases the resonance of the mentorship.
5. Avoiding Common Pitfalls: Common networking mistakes: prioritising quantity over quality, asking for help too soon, and treating relationships transactionally. Instead look for consistent, frequent engagement, and fostering genuine connections without an immediate expectation of return.
6. The Evolution of Mentorship: Andy notes the shift in mentorship due to remote work and changing career paths. This necessitates a more inclusive approach, embracing virtual mentoring, cross-organisational collaborations, and adapting to the needs of younger generations who prioritise long-term development over short-term project-based Coaching.

Connect with Andy Lopata: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | X/Twitter | YouTube

Connect with Lisa Fain: Website |LinkedIn |

Listen to the full episode here

The Financial Times Guide to Mentoring

Most Recent Episodes

December 29, 2024

Bytes: Vulnerability, Habits, and Productising Your Business with Andy Lopata

In this episode of Connected Leadership Bytes, Andy Lopata revisits his interview with Malcolm Palmer on making Making Your Business Less Dependent On You. Andy and Malcolm discuss the challenges of...

Listen · 21:25

December 22, 2024

Connected Leadership Bytes: Investing in Relationships for Success with Melina Palmer

In this episode, Andy Lopata revisits his guest interview with Melina Palmer on The Brainy Business Podcast, to explore the power of connected leadership. Andy, a master of networking, discusses his...

Listen · 21:38

December 15, 2024

Designing Authentic Connection with Melva Lajoy Legrand

This episode of Connected Leadership Bytes features a revisit of Andy's conversation with Melva Lajoy Legrand, a leading event planner. Andy and Melva discuss the art of creating authentic...

Listen · 20:59

Load More Episodes

Andy Lopata Author, Podcast Host and Speaker on Professional Relationships Strategy

Andy Lopata is a specialist speaker on professional relationships, mentoring, networking, and social media strategy. He is a firm believer that professional relationships underpin our success in business, our roles, and our careers. The right relationships with the right people can lead to new business opportunities, investment, collaborative working, innovation, and career progress. We just need to be comfortable approaching those relationships strategically, without making people feel ‘networked’ by us.

Andy has worked in the field of networking and professional relationships for 25 years, working with global giants such as Paypal, GSK, AstraZeneca, Wella, HSBC, Wembley Stadium, the BBC, and the Prime Minister’s Office of the UAE, among many others during that time. He has also worked with leading universities including NYU, Duke University, and Oxford University’s Said Business School.

A regular blogger for Psychology Today, Andy has been quoted in The Sunday Times, The Financial Times, and The Guardian, as well as many other national and regional newspapers and magazines worldwide. He has written or co-authored six books on networking and professional relationships, with his sixth book, "The Financial Times Guide to Mentoring," being published in Spring 2024. He is also the host of The Connected Leadership Podcast and has interviewed globally recognized names in business, academia, sports, and entertainment for the show.

Andy has been inducted into the PSAE Hall of Fame – the Professional Speaking Association Award of Excellence, which was held by only 21 other speakers at the time it was presented. He is a Fellow and a former President of the Fellows’ Community of the Professional Speaking Association (PSA), a Fellow of the Learning and Performance Institute (LPI), and a Member of the Association of Business Mentors and the Meetings Industry Association.