A personal mentor is like a personal trainer -- someone who can give you objective and personalized help to make you better.
个人导师就像私人教练一样，可以给你提供客观且个性化的帮助，让你变得更优秀。
A good mentor is usually someone who knows something about your job and company, but need not be an expert. A mentor shouldn't be your direct manager or in your line of management, because that may create a conflict of interest for him/her. And a mentor should be more senior than you, but not by too much. Someone who is about two promotions higher is ideal. A mentor who is not senior enough may not be able to take a step back and see the forest and not just the trees. But a mentor who is too senior may not be able to step into your shoes and see things they way you do.
一个好的导师往往对你的工作和公司有很好的认识，但不必是这方面的专家。导师不一定是你的直属上司，因为这样会有利益冲突。导师的职位最好高于你，但不要相差太多，比你高出两级的领导是比较理想的选择。如果导师的级别不够高，他们就有可能看得不够远，容易只见树木不见森林。相反，导师的级别如果太高，那么他们也不太容易站在你的立场来看问题。
There are three types of mentors (or the "three C's):
下面是三种不同类型的导师：
1.Comforter -- A person you call when you're having trouble. A good comforter would lend you a sympathetic ear (and occasionally a shoulder to cry on). But he/she would help you see the silver lining in a dark cloud, and also cheer you up and give you confidence and hope.
1.安慰型：你可以在遇到困难时给此类导师打电话。他们会同情地倾听你诉苦，有时候也会借个肩膀给你来哭。但更重要的是，他们能帮助你在困难中找到解决问题的方法，并鼓励你，给你信心和希望。
2.Clarifier -- A expert at analyzing and problem-solving. A good clarifier will ask questions, listen, ask more questions, help develop multiple solutions, and finally help you pick one. A really good clarifier should get you to a point where you can pick the solution without help, and also learn how to problem-solve for yourself the next time.
2.解决型：这类导师是分析问题、解决问题的专家。他们会问你问题，倾听你的回答，再问你更多的问题，然后帮你建立多种不同的解决方案，最后帮你挑选出最适合的一个。一个真正好的解决型导师会指导你如何在没有帮助的情况下自己想出解决方案，并教会你下次遇到问题时，如何自己来解决。
3.Confronter -- When you are complacent, lazy, or afraid, you need a confronter to challenge and push you, and remind you of your commitments. Good confronters are tough and not always pleasant, but they are particularly important for those of us who lack discipline or courage.
3.鞭策型：当你自满、懒散或害怕时，这类导师就会来鞭策你、推动你，并告诉你你的目标。他们往往很严厉，不太温和，但是对于那些缺乏自律和勇气的人来说，这类导师相当重要。