Having a support team around you can be invaluable as a foundation for your leadership. When you are most in need of finding direction, your support team helps you get on track. Members of your support team help you stay focused on your True North. Your support team keeps you grounded in reality, and provides the support, counsel, and confidence you need as you venture forth to take on challenging tasks on your leadership journey. Since you are unique, your best learning will come from multiple sources.

A good person to have on your support team is a mentor. Good mentors have the ability to ask probing questions that broaden your perspective on the issues you are facing and serve as a reality check for you, especially when you are in denial, distorting reality, or projecting your personal problems onto someone else.

1. Make a list of the most important relationships in your life, right now and in the past. What is your most important relationship? Why is this person important to you? In what ways do you look to this person for support?
2. Describe a particular teacher, coach, or adviser who has been influential in your interest in leadership and your development as a leader.