Starting a business can be an exhausting activity.
Juggling all the different needs of the business with personal life can quickly become tiring in many ways. In such cases, a mentor can be a savior for self and business.
Having a mentor is essentially like having a business consultant, but one who is emotionally invested in the success of your business by virtue of the personal relationship you share. That connection is important because they will likely be more inclined to go over and above than someone who’s only motivated by the money.
A mentoring relationship is typically between two individuals who are usually, though not always, in a similar field of work. This relationship serves to help people achieve their goals, and can help with accelerated career development and the avoidance of pitfalls that might otherwise occur. They can assist to get through particularly thorny problems and to evaluate whether a change is in order or if a new perspective or skill is needed.
One important aspect of mentoring that is often overlooked is the value that the mentor gets from the relationship. It is not just a one-way value proposition. In fact, when people serve as a mentor, they often begin to reflect more on their own career path and gain new perspectives on problems they may be facing. They may begin to question their own tactics, such as the ways they manage staff and how their behavior might be interpreted.
Being a mentor can also rejuvenate a veteran employee who may be looking for a way to freshen or liven up their work without making a job change. Grasping your mentor’s skills & attitude can help you to act as a mentor in-house for your subordinates.
These five points will give you a quick walkthrough:
(1) DEFINE YOUR NEEDS.
Clarity of your business and personal goals will help you to plan and achieve them faster. When you are outlining the need of a mentor, be clear and concise on how and why you want this relationship and how it will benefit both of the parties.
(2) MAKE THE APPROACH.
There are many business gurus and leaders in the market, but that doesn’t make all of them suitable for your business. By clearly defining your industry, business function and outcome required, you can choose a wise mentor for your business.
(3) BE CONNECTED.
Mentors are there for you in your highs and as well as in your lows. Being friendly with your mentor can help you in the long run, as business, in the end, is all about the people.
(4) MAXIMIZE THE RELATIONSHIP.
Listen carefully! Mentors with years of experience can be giving a lot of advice together. Always take notes, study what they have to say, and maximize the relationship by asking relevant questions to them. By this even they will grow as a mentor with you and will relish your success.
(5) BE THANKFUL.
As we discussed earlier, A mentor will likely be more inclined to go over and above than someone who’s only motivated by the money. Be thankful to them, as mentors seek for mentees who really strive to create successful businesses.
After you kick off your mentorship, you’ll want to make sure that you are making the most of it in terms of the benefits to your business and your personal entrepreneurial development. In all, having a mentor could be very beneficial for you and your business if you do it properly.