Successful Business Mentoring Relationships for Business Start Up
Starting up in business can be tricky and a lonely endeavour, and for that reason it would be useful for you to have a business mentor handy to support and guide you during your new business start up.In this post, we will explore what makes an effective business mentoring relationship for business start ups.The Mentor-Mentee RelationshipThe role of a mentor is to facilitate the mentee in achieving their goals. While the mentor can certainly learn a lot from instructing and leading others, the relationship between the mentor and the mentee should be mentee-cantered.So the mentor should listen, guide, and even challenge the mentee to do their best in starting up a new business.The mentorship plan demands regular contact between the mentor and the mentee for the communication line to remain open.Business mentoring is an interactive relationship in which both parties will be able to contribute to each other’s grow as a person.You should take note that mentoring is totally different from counselling and neither is it being buddies because mentoring is a tool that is used for personal and professional development.Formal and Informal mentoringAnyone can be a mentor or a mentee without joining any mentoring program. For example, just attending a business networking meeting you can converse with a fellow business owner who have attended the meeting learn something important from them; this type of mentoring is known as informal business mentoring.Informal mentoring usually just occurs even if you don’t plan it, this can be just as important as a formal mentoring program.On the other hand, formal mentoring is having an acknowledged relationship between the mentor and the mentee.Formal business mentoring would require the commitment of time and effort between the two parties so that they can share and learn from each other.This type of business mentoring program can be for a specific project or for a specified time period.Finding a Business MentorHaving the wrong mentor can be even worse than having no mentor at all. For this reason, that you should take the time and effort to look for a mentor that will suit your preferences, individuality, and learning style.You need to look within yourself, your new business and the environment around you; then, ask yourself what you really want to learn. Often times, you need to consider the following questions before deciding on a business mentor:• Would the the or she provide me with good and accurate information? • Would he or she support me in reaching my goals and objectives?• Would he or she respect my dreams, my decisions, and my goal in life? • Would my business mentor challenge me when it is necessary? • Can the mentor actually be trusted? • Am I willing to listen to this mentor’s ideas and suggestions?Asking these questions before you commit to a mentoring plan is essential for you to reap the best possible benefit. It is also important to have a clear communication line between you and the mentor. Even at the start of the mentoring program, you need to specify your expectations and your goal so that the mentor will know which direction to take.Ending the Business Mentoring ProgramHowever, all good things must come to an end. Both parties should acknowledge what they have learned and thank each other for the time and effort that the particular person has spent for another’s well-being.Even after the business mentoring program ends though, the business mentor can still support the mentee and be there for the mentee when required.
