Leadership is often romanticized as a lonely summit

—where once you arrive, clarity follows automatically. In reality, the higher you rise, the fewer people can give you honest, unbiased feedback. This is precisely why mentors are not a \nice to have\ for leaders; they are a must-have.

If the world's best athletes-people at the absolute peak of human performance-still rely on coaches, why should leadership be any different?

Think about Sachin Tendulkar or Virat Kohli. Their talent was undeniable. Their discipline is legendary.

Yet neither played alone. Behind every great inning was a coach-someone to refine technique,

challenge blind spots, and keep them grounded when success threatens to become complacency.

Leadership works the same way.

Mentors act as a compass, not a crutch 

A mentor does not run your race for you. Instead, they help you choose the right direction-especially when visibility is low. As leaders grow, decisions become less black-and-white and more layered with ambiguity, politics, and long-term consequences. A mentor brings perspective earned through experience, helping you avoid costly detours that look attractive in the short term but damaging in the long run.

They ask the uncomfortable questions you may avoid asking yourself.

Mentors keep leaders in check-without fear or agenda

One of the biggest risks leaders face is unchecked success. When results are strong, people hesitate to challenge you. Over time, this can quietly erode judgment.

A mentor is one of the few people who can say:

• \You're right—but not for the reason you think.\

• \This decision is smart, but your intent is drifting.\

• \Your team is following you, but they're no longer questioning you.\

Just as a coach corrects a star player's stance or shot selection, a mentor corrects leadership behaviors before they become habits.

Growth needs reflection, not just momentum

Most leaders are great at execution. Fewer are great at reflection.

Mentors create space to pause and reflect-on decisions, failures, patterns, and personal blind spots. This reflection is what converts experience into wisdom. Without it, leaders risk repeating the same mistakes at a larger scale.

Athletes review footage. Leaders review choices.

Mentors guide that review.

Mentors separate ego from performance

At senior levels, ego can quietly masquerade as confidence. A mentor helps distinguish the two.

They remind leaders that:

• Being decisive is not the same as being infallible

• Authority is not the same as influence

• Visibility is not the same as impact

For elite athletes, coaches ensure hunger stays alive even after accolades. For leaders, mentors ensure

humility survives success.

The best leaders outgrow comfort, not coaching

The irony is simple: the better you become, the more dangerous it is to grow alone.

High-performing leaders don't seek mentors, because they are weak. They seek mentors because they are serious about longevity, relevance, and character. Just like great players evolve their game across decades, great leaders evolve their mindset, style, and judgment with guidance.

Talent may get you noticed. Discipline may get you results. But mentorship is what sustains greatness.

If the best players in the world still need a coach-leaders, too, need someone who helps them see what they can't see themselves.

Because leadership, like sport, is not about reaching the top once. It's about staying there-the right way.