Building a strong relationship with a business mentor is one of the best ways to jumpstart your entrepreneurial career. A mentor can offer plenty of knowledge and insight that will help you make smarter decisions and grow professionally in ways you’ve never imagined.
In this article, we’ll be highlighting a few key tips to help you find the right mentor that will guide you towards the path of success.
Why are mentors important?
A good business mentor is someone who shares their learnings and experiences to foster growth and improve the potential of their mentees. If you’re just starting with your career and you’re looking for expert guidance along the way, a mentor can help do just that.
Here are a couple of ways a good mentor can influence you to become the best version of yourself:
- They keep you motivated and inspired. Most mentors are successful in their respective fields and they know what it takes to be at the top of their position. Having a role model can inspire you to push yourself and accomplish meaningful goals as you progress through your career.
- They provide constructive feedback. Mentors can assess your decision-making and be straightforward with the possible outcomes.
- They can teach you to navigate difficult situations. We’ve all encountered hardships in our careers and mentors have overcome many obstacles that contributed to their success. They can offer sound advice on how you can better respond to challenging situations.
- They can help expand your professional network. Mentors can introduce you to key people who can offer new and exciting opportunities.
- They provide clear insight into where your career path is heading. Seeing things from a different perspective allows you to view the bigger picture and focus on the stuff that matters.
How to find a mentor
If you wish to benefit from mentorship, then you have to find the right mentor for you. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- Outline what you’re looking for in mentorship by listing your career objectives. Consider your current position and how it relates to your desired career path. Knowing what you want to achieve will help you identify the right mentor that will guide you towards your goals.
- Look closely at mentors who work in the same industry you’re in. These people have the relevant skills and experience that you’ll benefit from tremendously. A good place to start looking is within your company. It could be a colleague or anyone who has extensive industry experience and is willing to show you the ropes on how to build your career from the ground up.
- Reach out to your potential mentor. Ask them if they’re willing to take you under their wing and guide you on your journey through entrepreneurship. Be clear and concise when communicating with your potential mentor so they know what to expect when they agree with the mentorship.
- Explain your proposal by outlining your future plans and how you want to achieve them. This gives your mentor a good foundation to work from and will help them identify the things you’ll need to do in order to achieve your goals.
Tips on maintaining an effective mentorship
A successful mentorship is a two-way street. Both you and your mentor should be working together to address problems, come up with solutions, and reinforce action plans. By maintaining your professional relationship with your mentor, you can continue progressing in your career and develop habits that successful people possess. Here are a couple of tips for maintaining an effective mentorship:
- Keep in touch with your mentor. Actively reach out and don’t be afraid to ask questions if you have any. Remember that your mentor is there to support your growth and they’ll do everything in their power to ensure their mentee is treading in the right direction. It can be helpful to set up a meeting every week or month to maintain communication and help your mentor keep track of your progress.
- Have an open mindset. Absorb your mentor’s advice like a sponge and apply it to your daily life as best you can. Don’t take it too personally when your mentor is criticising your work; they just want to see you do great and they expect you to perform to the best of your abilities.
- Stay committed. Be dedicated to honing your craft and stick to the advice that your mentor has given you. It’s okay if you do things wrong from time to time; what matters is you learn from your mistakes and you get back on track. Your mentor will be more than happy to see you grow as a professional and one way you can show that is through progress.
- Trust your mentor. Building relationships is all about trust and if you want the mentorship to work, then you should have full trust and confidence with your mentor. There’s a reason why your mentor is at the top of their respective field and it’s because they have the skills, the mindset, and the experience to succeed.
