Entrepreneurs are known for their strong spirit of independence. That fire is what makes them want to pursue entrepreneurship in the first place and it's what keeps them good at it. However, no matter how resilient they can be there will come a point where they will hit a block in growing their business. Whether a series of beginner mistakes or a seemingly insurmountable wall ahead of them, they might need help so they can get through it; help from someone with professional experience. This is where you come in - a Mentor!
But what exactly is a mentor?
Mentoring can be one of those basic terms that could be difficult to define. So to start, it might be easier to define what mentoring is not.
- You are not a coach
- Not a counselor
- Not a superior
As a mentor is it your aim to create a mutual relationship where learning and experience can flourish. Mentoring is more than just giving advice or passing on what your experience was in a particular area or event. It's about motivating and encouraging the other person to identify their own issues and goals then, help them to find ways of resolving or reaching them. It’s important to note that a mentor does not help by doing it for them, or expecting them to perform in a similar way as yourself, but by understanding and respecting different ways of working.
Why should you want to mentor?
The clearest reason to become a mentor is if you're the sort of person who likes to see others succeed or want to support others in your field then this can be a very emotionally and professionally rewarding experience. A mentoring relationship can also help you develop your strengths and leadership style. The knowledge gained from your mentee’s background and work history can help grow a mentor professionally and personally. Not to mention, a relationship with a fresh professional in your field can reinvigorate creativity and love for your work. Taking the next step in your career as a mentor is what keeps the system going and makes all businesses stronger.
“Mentoring has developed my network, helped me create a clear business strategy and has allowed me to develop practical skills to implement during the day to day of running the business” - Mickela Hall-Ramsey, HR Sports Academy
How do you start?
You may think that being a mentor requires vast amounts of experience within a specific field. The truth is that everyone has something to offer. Even if you just have a few years of experience, you can be loads of help for someone just getting off the ground.
If you would like to pursue becoming a mentor then please contact us and we will work with you thought our mentor training process. If you want more information check out our webpage on mentorship or send us an email.
“Good mentoring is about advising not instructing; being patient and understanding; being available and responding quickly when there is a crisis. It is about passing on relevant information based on experience and being tolerant when advice is ignored. If mentoring is done well the relationship is rewarding for both parties.” - Philip Howard, Launch It Board of Trustees