Who is On Your Team of Mentors?

September 21, 2026•4 min read

Who is On Your Team of Mentors?

Someone Who Believes in You

Every leader needs someone in their corner. Someone who celebrates the wins with you, encourages you when things don't go well, and reminds you of your purpose when the days get difficult.

There will be days when leadership doesn't feel rewarding. There will be decisions that are questioned, conversations that don't go the way you hoped, and moments when you wonder whether your efforts are making a difference. Those are the moments when having someone who believes in you can make a tremendous difference.

But great mentors combine encouragement with accountability. They believe in you enough to tell you the truth, even when the truth isn't necessarily what you want to hear.

The right mentor will both encourage you and hold you accountable.

Now, Look in the Mirror

There is another important question we need to ask:

Who are you mentoring?

Leadership isn't just about finding people who help us grow. It is also about becoming the person who helps someone else grow. Someone is watching how you lead. Someone is learning from how you handle pressure, how you treat people, how you respond when things don't go your way, and how you make difficult decisions.

Someone may become a better leader because you took the time to invest in them.

Think about the people who have poured into your life. A teacher. A coach. A supervisor. A colleague. A friend. Maybe someone who simply saw something in you before you saw it in yourself.

Someone poured into you. Now pour into someone else.

That is how leadership multiplies.

RLR Leadership Challenge

Take five minutes this week and write down the names of the people who make up your Team of Mentors.

Then ask yourself:

Who challenges my thinking?

Who provides wisdom and perspective?

Who encourages me when leadership gets difficult?

Who is willing to tell me the truth?

And perhaps most importantly:

Who am I intentionally mentoring?

If you can't answer those questions, maybe it is time to build your team.

Great leaders don't grow alone. They grow through relationships, experiences, conversations, challenges, encouragement, and the wisdom of others.

The people we surround ourselves with influence the people we become. So be intentional about who you allow to speak into your life—and be just as intentional about whose life you are willing to speak into.

Because leadership isn't just about what we accomplish.

It is about who we become and who becomes better because we were willing to invest in them.

When we are willing to Serve. Support. Help. one another, we don't just become better leaders.

We help develop the next generation of leaders.

So, one final question:

Who is on your Team of Mentors?

Serve. Support. Help Leaders and Their Organizations.

– Randy L. Russell, Ph.D.
President, RLR Leadership Consulting

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Who's In Your Inner Circle?
RLR Leadership Consulting and The CORE Project

Think about the people closest to you. The ones you share ideas with, lean on for support, and let influence your decisions. That group—your inner circle—shapes how you see yourself, the choices you make, and even the risks you’re willing to take.

Sometimes, those relationships give you energy and push you forward. Other times, they hold you back. That’s why RLR Leadership Consulting and The CORE Project have teamed up to create Your Inner Circle—an opportunity to pause, reflect, and intentionally shape the connections that matter most.

In this experience, you’ll:

Identify who truly belongs in your circle
Learn how to set healthy boundaries when needed
Build trust that actually lasts
Choose connections that make you stronger

Because the truth is, leadership isn’t just about strategy or skills—it’s about people. And the people closest to you can either empower your growth or limit your potential.

We’d love for you to join us. As a special opportunity, use code Randy15 for a discounted price—but hurry, this offer won’t last long.
https://thecorepro.com/coregroups/p/your-inner-circle-curriculum

Your circle matters. Choose it wisely.

If you would like me, or someone from our RLR Team, to speak or work with your school and/or school district, please contact us at www.randyrussell.org.