5 reasons why you should have a business mentor

Whether you’re starting your own business or managing an established one, finding a business mentor is always a good idea. With a business mentor, you can learn from someone who has been through similar challenges to the ones you may be facing.

What’s the difference between a business mentor and a business coach?

Business coaching and business mentoring have much in common, but the main difference is the longevity of the relationship.

Business coaches help you improve your business skills, tackle issues by developing an action plan, and learn how to respond to them yourself in the future. Coaching could take place on a weekly or monthly basis until you feel confident enough to move on alone.

Having a business mentor is more of an ongoing relationship involving the development of long-term business plans and strategies – and responding to an ever-evolving business landscape. Depending on the relationship, you may meet once a month or every 6 months. Whatever works best for both parties.

Why should I get a business mentor?

Typically, a mentor has more experience in a given area than their mentee, and can therefore offer knowledge and insights based on their own business dealings. The mentor benefits by giving back to their business community, and the mentee (you) benefits from the wisdom and lessons learned, which you can consider applying to your business.

Here are 5 specific reasons why you might consider choosing a business mentor.

1. Learn from an expert

Imagine what someone with 20 years’ experience in your industry knows. If you face a challenge, you can be almost certain someone with that much know-how and knowledge will be worth listening to, as you decide what to do.

2. Make industry connections

A good mentor will know hundreds of people in your industry and can make warm introductions for you. Whether you are just starting out, or are a few years into your business, an introduction from someone with an existing relationship can make all the difference.

3. Gain confidence in your decisions

Your mentor should have your best interests at heart, giving you the confidence you need to take that extra step outside your comfort zone. You can run new ideas by your mentor as a sounding board, and flesh out concepts until you feel ready to share them with others.

4. Identify your growth areas

When someone knows you well, and they have a lot of experience, they can tell you what is easy and what might be a stretch for you. They may suggest exploring other personal or business growth areas to ensure you have a solid foundation of experience for the future 

5. Pitch to perfection

If you go up for business funding or put forward an innovation to an investor, you can run your pitch by your mentor and help ensure you’re on the money. They can give you constructive feedback on how you can improve your communication skills, body language and presentation content.

So how do I find a business mentor?

There are a few avenues you could explore to help find your business mentor. They include:
 

• Networking events and workshops
• Existing industry contacts
• Professional networking sites, such as LinkedIn
• A local mentoring service (search online or ask around)